Karachi, Sept. 9 -- Roads, markets, and neighbourhoods in the Pakistan city of Karachi remain severely congested with illegal encroachments despite repeated assurances from the Sindh government, the Karachi commissioner, and the city mayor.

Promised sweeping anti-encroachment drives have largely become superficial operations, doing little to ease traffic chaos or improve the daily lives of millions, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to news outlet both the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) anti-encroachment department and the 25 town administrations regularly conduct staged raids. Pushcarts and stalls are temporarily cleared, only to return soon after, allegedly following the payment of bribes.

Shopkeepers and street...