SHC Stops Commercial Use of Karachi Parks
SHC Blocks Commercial Use of Karachi’s Public Parks
KARACHI — The Sindh High Court (SHC) has struck down a City Council resolution that allowed public parks in Karachi to be used for commercial purposes.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Faisal Kamal Alam and Justice Muhammad Hasan Akber, issued a detailed verdict following a petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). The petition challenged the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) decision to lease out parks for business activities.
The petition was filed by Advocate Saifuddin, opposition leader in the City Council, along with chairmen of nine Town Municipal Corporations — including New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Gulberg, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Model Colony, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Jinnah, and Landhi — and a City Council member.
In its ruling, the court stated that the Sindh Assembly had not devolved powers to local governments as mandated under Article 140A of the Constitution. Consequently, the KMC does not have the authority to lease out parks to private entities.
The SHC emphasized that public parks and amenity plots are meant strictly for recreational use and cannot be repurposed for commercial activities. The court further noted that public parks fall under citizens’ fundamental rights as outlined in Article 9A.
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