Over 1,200 residential and commercial units were demolished in Afghan Khema Basti during operations
A major crackdown on encroachment began its fifth day in Karachi as authorities continued a large-scale demolition in the Afghan refugee settlement of Gulshan-e-Maymar, razing hundreds of illegal structures built on government land.
According to officials, more than 1,200 residential and commercial units have been demolished so far in the locality known as Afghan Khema Basti, which was established in 1984 and spans approximately 215 acres. The area, valued in billions of rupees, falls under the jurisdiction of the Malir Development Authority (MDA).
Director of Anti-Encroachment Amir Fazal Owaisi and SHO Zone 1 Shayan Anjum said the operation is part of the government’s broader policy to repatriate Afghan nationals and reclaim encroached public land. The settlement previously housed over 3,200 structures and was home to thousands of Afghan refugees.
Read more: Demolition of Afghan homes begins in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth
Sunday’s phase of the operation involved coordinated teams of the Anti-Encroachment Force Zone 1, MDA and the district police. Heavy machinery was deployed to flatten structures while a strong police presence was ensured to prevent any unrest.
DSP Manghopir Masroor Ahmed Jatoi said the settlement once housed around 15,000 Afghan refugees, of which more than 90% – approximately 14,000 people – have already returned to Afghanistan. “The remaining 800 to 1,000 residents are expected to leave in the coming days,” he added.
He confirmed that similar anti-encroachment operations were carried out in other parts of Karachi against Afghan nationals staying illegally, in line with official policy.
Authorities said the ongoing operation in Gulshan-e-Maymar will continue until all encroachments are cleared and the land is completely reclaimed.
Meanwhile, several Afghan families remain in the settlement, packing up their belongings as they prepare to leave. Many have been seen selling scrap materials such as iron bars, doors and window frames from their homes to local traders besides taking household items with them on their journey back to Afghanistan.
