SHC seeks report from DIG traffic on illegal parking fee

Petitioner tells court KMC collecting fee for double lane parking in markets

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court heard the plea against the unlawful parking areas and collection of parking fee and sought the report from the Sindh government and the Deputy Inspector General of traffic police.

The petitioner's counsel contended in front of a two-member bench led by Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi that double parking is prevalent across the city.

"Where is double parking taking place, can you point out," the court enquired? The petitioner's counsel responded that district municipal corporations (DMCs) and Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) offer parking. How can this be permitted, the judge questioned?

The court remarked that the parking lot was constructed and there are rumours that ghosts are dwelling there. The court wants to know what has happened to this parking lot.

KMC's counsel contended that the parking plaza falls within the jurisdiction of KDA. The judge commented that the building's development had cost millions of rupees. What is the use of this structure, it should to be utilized for the purpose it was built.

KMC's legal representative stated that KMC charges parking fees on the roads it owns.

The court remarked that many honourable officers do not put the law into effect.

The counsel for the Sindh government said that it is not within its purview to permit parking. These are the authority like KMC and DMCs. The primary purpose of the Sindh government's responsibility is to ensure traffic flow.

The court ordered the counsel for the Sindh government to indicate the locations of any unlawful parking.

The Sindh government and DIG traffic were asked to provide an implementation report. The court postponed the hearing to September 26.

It was also stated in the plea that the motorcycle parking fee in Karachi is set at Rs10, but the parking mafia is collecting a Rs30.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2023.