KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has taken a proactive stance to tackle the prevalent issue of illegal parking in Karachi.
In a recent hearing, the court requested a comprehensive report from both the provincial government and DIG Traffic to address this pressing concern.
The hearing aimed to address the problems related to unauthorized parking fees and the widespread issue of illegal parking.
During the hearing at the Sindh High Court (SHC), representatives from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the petitioner presented their arguments before the court.
The petitioner’s advocate drew attention to the persistent problem of double parking that plagues various areas of Karachi.
Responding to this concern, the court directed the petitioner to identify specific locations where double parking is most rampant.
The legal proceedings also shed light on the active role of both the District Municipal Corporation (DMC) and KMC in providing parking facilities.
However, the court raised eyebrows over the permission and regulation of double parking within the city.
Moreover, questions were raised about how such practices were permitted by the municipal bodies.
The condition of a parking plaza also became a focal point during the hearing. The court directed questions toward the KMC lawyer, seeking clarity on the purpose and jurisdiction of the parking plaza.
The KMC representative responded by indicating that the parking plaza’s management falls under the jurisdiction of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA).
In addition, significant attention was drawn to the substantial investment made in constructing the parking plaza and the apparent underutilization of the facility.
The issue of motorcycle parking fees was also a matter of discussion during the proceedings.
The petitioner highlighted that while the fee had been officially set at Rs. 10, a so-called “parking mafia” was charging Rs. 30 for motorcycle parking.
To address the pressing concerns of illegal parking and unauthorized fees, the court requested the government’s legal representative to provide specific locations where such violations were rampant.
The hearing concluded with the announcement that further examination of the matter would take place, and the proceedings were adjourned until September 26.
Source: PakistanToday
