The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the provincial government, and other concerned parties to submit a response to a petition regarding the issuance of licences for installing sugarcane juice machines on footpaths.

A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, observed that encroachment on footpaths throughout the metropolitan city has been removed as per directives from the Supreme Court. No entity, including banks, is permitted to encroach upon footpaths, such as installing generators, he further observed.

The public prosecutor reiterated that encroachment on footpaths is strictly prohibited by law. The petitioner, Muhammad Yusuf, brought attention to KMC’s issuance of a licence for setting up a sugarcane juice machine on Hasrat Mohani Road. He pointed out that licence criteria have not been renewed since 2019.

Chief Justice Abbasi observed that installing any structure on footpaths is impermissible, leading to the court’s decision to disallow licence renewals. The court called for a report from the government other parties on this matter.

Regarding the procedure for issuing licences for sugarcane juice machines and other installations on footpaths, the court directed the KMC, provincial government, and other relevant authorities to submit their responses by April 17.