KARACHI: Despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) orders against installing billboards in public places in both civil and cantonment areas, a huge billboard has been put up in three districts of the metropolis.
According to sources, officers of DMC East’s Outdoor Advertising Department are allegedly involved in the corruption of billions of rupees by illegally allowing billboards on private properties.
Sources further said after receiving enormous bribe from advertising companies the advertising department had allowed installing huge billboards in Central, South and East districts of the city.
According to the rules and regulations, for any billboards, it is necessary to pay the tax of the site to the concerned DMC in advance through pay order. However, according to sources in these three DMCs, have not been submitted pay order.
Earlier, Commissioner Karachi Sohail Rajput had directed all the deputy commissioners (DCs) to remove all the billboards installed at public properties if deemed dangerous for the public, and ensure that no such billboards are installed on public properties in the city in the future.
He issued these orders while chairing a meeting to review the steps taken for ensuring the implementation of the orders of the Supreme Court (SC).
The Chief Justice of Pakistan also directed the concerned officials to remove all the billboards and signboards across the city.
“The entire city is full of billboards,” said the judge during a hearing, adding that if these fall down then they can cause severe damage. He also asked Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani to submit a report on the matter.
On the other hand, District East Director Advertising, Javed Kalhor told MM News, “We have met the legal requirements and filled the challan for allowing billboards”. However, he failed to show the pay order of the unpaid challan. Instead, he showed advanced checks.
Sources said in Central Districts Municipality Director Advertising also allow placing advertisements without challan and pay order. Advertising installation has started in South District, sources added.
Earlier, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had received evidence of alleged corruption by officers of DMC East’s Outdoor Advertising Department by illegally allowing billboards on private properties.
ACE had launched an inquiry into widespread corruption conducted by Deputy Director Anti-Corruption East Zone Zameer Abbasi. The inquiry has been completed and a case was expected to the lodged against the Advertising Department’s officials.
The names of the officers involved in the inquiry include Municipal Commissioner DMC East Wasim Mustafa Soomro, Director Abdul Ghani, Deputy Director Akhlaq Ahmed, and Inspector Advertising Fazal Abbas.
