Karachi's vanishing footpaths: Encroachments force citizens to walk on roads

Footpaths around the world are meant for walking, but in Karachi, they are used for business. Street vendors, carts, food stalls, bank generators, and shop items occupy the sidewalks, becoming a part of Karachi's problematic culture.

Citizens, despite wanting to, cannot walk on the sidewalks and are forced to walk on the road, leading to traffic accidents. Mayor Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, admits that encroachments on sidewalks are a failure of the administration. He says plans are underway to free sidewalks from encroachments. Shopkeepers claim they pay to set up their stalls, and whenever an operation is planned, they are informed in advance, allowing them to move their goods temporarily and return after the operation ends. Citizens argue that the occupation of sidewalks has worsened traffic problems, and it feels as if sidewalks no longer exist in Karachi.