KARACHI: Efforts to legalize and regulate scrap yards in Karachi have hit a standstill, as the draft legislation prepared by senior police officials—including DIG West and SSP AVLC—remains caught in bureaucratic red tape instead of being forwarded to the Sindh Government for formal approval. Under this proposed regulatory framework, over 4,000 small and large scrap dealers across the city are expected to be brought under official oversight. The draft mandates government licensing and registration, allowing district administrations and relevant authorities to maintain strict checks and balances while regulating business hours, designated operating areas, and permitted trade items. Furthermore, to combat the issue of drug addicts selling stolen metal and parts to local dealers, the legislation requires mandatory CCTV installation near compression machinery and strict logbooks of all purchases to ensure easy tracking by law enforcement. Police officials emphasize that tighter monitoring of these scrap yards has already contributed to a noticeable reduction in motorcycle thefts across Karachi.
