Authorities barred from collecting parking fee
The Punjab Aukaf Department has barred authorities from collecting parking, shoe-keeping, and toilet fees at all shrines, imambargahs, mosques, courts and government dispensaries across the province.
The department has also immediately canceled contracts for parking and charging toilet fees. Closed-Circuit cameras have also been installed at all darbars, shrines, mosques to prevent theft of vehicles, motorcycles, and vehicles while special shoe racks have been installed at the places where visitors have been instructed to keep their shoes. There are separate shoe numbers for each rack.
The Aukaf Chief Administrator has issued a circular in which instructions have been issued to the administrators of all governments courts and shrines to abolish the fee-charging system completely on the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice.
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As per the orders, labourers will not be allowed to charge parking fees for looking over the vehicles as only government salaried employees will perform such duties. It has also been notified that strict departmental action will be taken against the person responsible for charging these fees.
Earlier, in shrines and government mosques, the shoe fee was Rs30 to Rs40 per person, the toilet fee was Rs20 per person, the parking fee was Rs20, the motorcycle was Rs30, car and bus coaster fee was Rs40 to Rs50. Therefore, the visitors to these places have welcomed the decision.
The toilet fee was 20 rupees, however, most washrooms still do not have basic facilities and water supply. The administration should also ensure complete clean and water supply in government washrooms along with soap and towels.
Court visitors Sharif Qureshi, Kamil Hassan, and Naveed Aziz said that they needed such relief because of the increasing inflation.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2021.