Par(kings) of Karachi

Charged parking is a profitable business in Karachi. So profitable, in fact, that everyone wants in on the action

KARACHI: Want to make a quick buck in Karachi? Interested in starting a business that requires almost no investment and is bound to get you cash fast?

Well then, all you need is a high-vision jacket [similar to the ones worn by labourers at construction sites], a yellow cap, preferably with the words 'KMC' or 'DMC' inscribed in block letters and a few forged receipts [that you must always reuse] and you are good to go.

You can now make your way to any major thoroughfare or market in the city and start charging people for parking their vehicles.

Is it illegal? Absolutely! Unethical? Of course! Who cares though? Soon, you'll be making enough cash to brush those thoughts aside.

Obviously, you must set aside a certain portion of your income for the authorities. Greasing palms is part of the business. In fact, the most difficult part of the business, you will find, is to locate a spot that isn't already taken.

You see, charged parking is big business in Karachi, raking in millions of rupees every day.

King of the road

Once you establish yourself as the 'contractor' of a particular site, no one will dare question your authority. Every motorist, whether they arrive in an over-priced SUV or a two-wheeler, must bow to your whims and pay the fee to park in your realm.

You can demand anywhere between Rs20 and Rs100 from each vehicle and most motorists would be happy to pay, believing that at least you would look after their property while they go about their business. How naïve can someone be?

The little receipt that you have recycled for the umpteenth time clearly states that you are not responsible for any damage to the vehicle. But who reads the fine print anyway? It really is the perfect business. You just wear a jacket, demand money off anyone parking in your mini-fiefdom and give no service in return.

Official stance

Under the law, only the civic agencies can collect charged parking fees - that too, after a spot is designated for charged parking after a debate in the relevant local government body.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) law for charged parking applies across the city, even though the six District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) manage the majority of these sites. In fact, the DMCs cumulatively have over 150 sites between them, compared to the 31 sites operated by the KMC.

When The Express Tribune reached out to the KMC's Director for Charged Parking, Abdul Khaliq Baloch, he admitted that the "parking mafia" had become a nuisance for the citizens of Karachi.

Not only do they set up their own designated sites, the parking mafia, according to Baloch, was overcharging motorists manifold. Under the KMC's law, the charge to park a car at any site is Rs20 and for a motorcycle is Rs10.

You will be hard-pressed to find this rate at any charged parking site in the city. When this was pointed out to Baloch, he admitted that they have been receiving complaints from across the city.

He added that they had taken action against some persons involved in the illegal operation, but the problem only seemed to be getting worse.

What Baloch failed to justify was how anyone can simply establish their own fiefdom on a public road and start demanding money from citizens.

Whither the state, one may ask.

But then, you must be naïve to ask that question. For the state apparatus - in this case - the traffic police, the KMC, DMCs and other civic agencies all get their share from the profitable venture.

The only losers are the citizens. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2019.