Unending inconvenience: Parking spaces, eateries outside KTH irk commuters in the city

These illegal operations pose security threats in the city

PESHAWAR: Parking spaces and eateries that were illegally established at the front gate of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH)’s casualty ward have irked commuters for a long time. A large number of commuters have complained that parking managers are even charging vehicles visiting the emergency unit of the hospital.

What is more, the KTH administration has alleged that the parking spaces receive electricity and gas supply from the hospital through illegal kunda connections.

Danish Baber, a local, told The Express Tribune he is charged for parking his vehicle when he visits the casualty ward with a patient.

“Parking managers are charging Rs30 for motorbikes and Rs50 for cars,” he says. The eateries alongside the parking are also selling unhygienic food to patients and their relatives.

Illegal connections

As per the hospital administration, the parking area is the property of Pakistan Railway. The area consumes electricity and gas from KTH through illegal connections.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, KTH Spokesperson Farhad Khan said parking administration is using hospital’s power and gas.

“We complained to the district administration about illegal use of the hospital’s power and gas and they have disconnected it during a raid,” he added.



According to Farhad, the hospital has its own parking in front of the main gate and also has its own restaurants and canteen inside the hospital to facilitate patients and their attendants. He said the illegal connections taken by the car parking affected the smooth running of air-conditioners and sterilisation equipment at the hospital.

Matter of jurisdiction

There was confusion about KTH car parking’s jurisdiction. However, PDA Director of Estate Management Dr Shahid told The Express Tribune the parking area does not fall under the jurisdiction of PDA. On the contrary, it falls under the jurisdiction of University Town Committee (UTC).

Rehman Khatak, who is affiliated with UTC, told The Express Tribune the property where the parking spaces have been established is owned by Pakistan Railway and they regularly auction it to bids at over Rs10 million.

“Railway authorities pay us the fee of the permit letter that the UTC issues them,” he said. “But we cannot shut it down as it’s not the property of the provincial government.” The city has dozens of illegal car parking zones where the relevant authorities have failed to maintain checks and balances.

Although the district administration has imposed Section 144 on encroachments, officials at the transport department told The Express Tribune the city has over a 100 illegal parking spaces owned by influential people. The parking spaces have been given on contracts to various parties who earn millions of rupees out of them.

Security threat

Another car parking set up under Mufti Shaheed Flyover in front of Peshawar High Court (PHC) poses a security threats to the important office buildings in its surroundings, including the K-P Assembly’s building. A lawyer at PHC told The Express Tribune the parking is security threat to the court as private vehicles are parked in the space without any security checks.

The official at the transport department maintained that they issue permits to parking spaces used for commercial purposes only. Currently, he said the department has issued licence only to 14 car parking located in Pishtakhara, Charsadda Road, Kamboh Adda, Hazar Khwani, Ring Road and spots on GT Road. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2016.