Karachi: Residents and environmentalists protested at Nehr e Khayam in Clifton on Sunday, demanding an immediate halt to construction and disclosure of plans for what they described as a commercial development along the waterway.
Members of the Clifton Block 5 Residents Association, Clifton Defence Community and Karachi Residents’ Community joined the demonstration, raising concerns about drainage, public space and the project’s environmental impact.
Resident Hummaa Ahmad said no public information board explained the work underway. She called for disclosure of approved designs, land boundaries, environmental assessments, contracts and expenditure, alongside decisions by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency.
Protesters said the project had been announced at Rs500 million and demanded publication of its approved budget, funding sources, contractors, payments and actual spending.
They also sought an independent assessment of the effects on drainage and the environment, followed by meaningful public consultation before further work.
Residents expressed concern that narrowing or altering the channel could reduce its capacity to carry rainwater. Some said they had heard a food street was planned and feared increased traffic, noise and congestion. The proposed commercial use was not confirmed in the response included in the report.
Clifton Urban Forest founder Masood Lohar said the waterway linked Obhayo Lagoon with Gizri Creek and warned against interference with the marine ecosystem.
Protesters also called for protection of the channel’s banks and public open spaces, and treatment of sewage before wastewater enters the sea.
A Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) spokesperson told Dawn that the local government department was executing the project and that neither KMC nor the Karachi mayor was responsible for it. The response did not address the protesters’ concerns about its design or environmental effects.
