Encroachments choke city markets
Traffic snarls on roads in Rawalpindi have become a common sight due to encroachments. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Contrary to the policy of the Punjab government and strict direction from the country’s superior courts, city managers have turned a blind eye to the ever-increasing encroachments in the city.
Sources said all major markets and city bazaars are grappling with encroachments and traffic congestion each day. The areas of Raja Bazaar, Anarkali Bazaar, Barra Bazaar, Dalgaran Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Namak Mandi Bazaar, Lal Haveli Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Iqbal Road, Commercial Market, Sadiqabad Bazaar, Muslim Town Bazaar, Khayaban Sir Syed Bazaar, Adiala Road Bazaars, and several other localities were bursting with encroachment.
A leader of the Traders Association Commercial Market Rizwan Sunny said the Commercial Area had turned into an encroachment hub with the nexus of Municipal Corporation officials and parking contractors.
He said push-up carts, chips, soda, juice, hangers and chat vendors were ruling the commercial market area and businessmen and vehicle movers were hostages in front of them. General Secretary Anjuman-Tajraan Rawalpindi Tahir Taj Bhatti said that illegal encroachments on every city road were the leading cause of disturbing business activities in the city areas.
He urged the Rawalpindi administration to widen the entrance of interior city bazaars including Talwara Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Bohr Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Moti Bazaar and other areas for the smooth flow of traffic. Tahir added that due to a lack of parking space and encroachments in many markets of downtown areas, traders were losing customers and distances of minutes were being covered in hours due to acute road encroachments and traffic stuckups.
He said it had become challenging for foot travellers to move into the city's commercial areas due to heavy traffic jams and increasing encroachments. Rani a housewife from the Akal Garh area, said that "she had planned to buy garments for my kids from Moti Bazar but was going back home as I could not move with my family due to a packed rush." When contacted official sources in the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi said a grand anti-encroachment drive had been started in the city areas on the instruction of Rawalpindi Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak for eliminating encroachments. He said shopkeepers themselves allow encroachers to spread a mini-shop in front of their shops for which they receive regular rents from the encroachers and held responsible Municipal Corporation for allowing encroachments, however, he stressed the trader community to cooperate with the Municipal administration in removing encroachments from the city limits.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2024.