Encroachers rule the roost in Rawalpindi
Despite the ruling of the LHC to remove all encroachments, they are still present in various areas of the city. PHOTO: AGHA MEHROZ/EXPRESS
The rampant encroachments in the business centres of the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) have exposed the dismal performance of its anti-encroachment department and collusion with the encroachment mafia.
Sources said the powerful encroachment mafia has gained control of all the roads and sidewalks of the inner city which is causing massive difficulties for pedestrians, impeding traffic flow and exacerbating the cleaning and security problems.
They said the actions by the Rawalpindi MC’s anti-encroachment department have become a ‘fixed match’ as wherever the anti-encroachment action is taken, the encroachers return to the same street within hours.
The roads connected to all business centres in the inner city, footpaths of the longest commercial area of Murree Road and the main road have been virtually handed over to the encroachment mafia by the anti-encroachment department, the sources added.
All roads including Murree Road, Iqbal Road, Liaquat road, Barra Bazar, DAV College road, College road, Boharr Bazar, Sadar City Road, Fawwara Chowk, Raja Bazar, Urdu Bazaar, Purana Qila, Sarrafa Bazar, Jama Masjid Road, Dingi Khooi Chowk, Gunj Mandi, Bani Chowk, Circular Road, Kohati Bazaar, Said Pur Road, Mohalla Raja Sultan, Commercial Market, New Katarian, Sadiqabad, Dhok Khabba, Dhok Ilahi Bakhsh Road and other areas are practically in the control of the encroachment mafia.
The illegal parking on both sides of these roads and the carts placed on footpaths are so much that it seems that the MCR's anti-encroachment department has rented out the government-owned footpaths and roads.
Hours-long traffic jam has become a routine on these roads. The carts on the footpaths and roadsides obstruct the flow of pedestrians and traffic. The condition of cleanliness is also miserable. Due to the illegal markets, which have cropped up inside the legal markets, there is always a rush of people on the roads. Also, security risks are there on every road in the inner city.
The business organisations regularly demand the district administration and the Rawalpindi MC administration to get the business out of this situation but all the actions of the anti-encroachment department against the encroachment mafia are nothing more than collusion as the department is effectively playing the role of the protector for encroachments.
When contacted the Rawalpindi MC’s Municipal Officer, Imran Ali, said that Rawalpindi Commissioner Saqib Manan has made a detailed visit to the markets in the inner city and according to his instructions, a line will be drawn on every road to prevent encroachment.
Similarly, a plan has been made to clear the footpaths from the encroachment mafia. A strategy is being devised on the instructions of the Rawalpindi commissioner which will soon be implemented to eliminate encroachments from all markets, important roads and footpaths in the inner city in different phases.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2022.