Illegal bike market thrives in Pindi

Traffic congestion on Faisal Colony-Bakra Mandi Road irks motorists, pedestrians

RAWALPINDI:

An illegal "Friday and Sunday open market" for used motorcycles has been thriving on a road near Bakra Mandi, Faisal Colony in the Cantonment area. The vendors are fearlessly selling "stolen" motorcycles without any fear.

Whenever the local police arrive, the motorcycle sellers promptly disperse, only to return later. This bike market attracts all residents of Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas who seek affordable and speedy solutions for their household necessities by selling bikes.

The market offers various models of light and heavy motorcycles, ladies' scooters, and an array of old motorcycle parts including tyres, wheels and tubes. It operates every Sunday from 9am to evening, with prices ranging from Rs50,000 for an old bike to Rs90,000-1,20,000 for a Honda 125 motorcycle. Additional discounts of Rs5,000-10,000 are available for cash payments or instant online transfers.

However, the market's presence causes significant traffic congestion on Faisal Colony-Bakra Mandi Road throughout the day. Despite the substantial sales turnover, the area's residents are unhappy with the market's location.

Citizen Abdul Hadi has expressed concerns about the motorcycle market's location in congested areas, stating that it has become challenging for women to navigate through the crowded space. He suggested relocating the market to a more open area, citing the presence of obscene people and the difficulties faced by women.

Qaiser Mushtaq, a motorcycle seller, shared his personal experience of urgently needing money for electricity bills and children's fees. He found the market to be a convenient platform for selling his bike quickly, allowing him to meet his essential expenses. "If anyone wants to sell a bike quickly in the market at a low price, the transaction is done quickly in this market," he added.

Sohail Shaukat, another seller, revealing his business strategy of purchasing old model motorcycles at a low cost, says he buys old motorcycles for Rs30,000 to Rs50,000 and sells them for Rs50,000 to Rs80,000 after repairing them, giving them a look of new.

Kamil Hassan, a local shopkeeper, laments the negative impact of the market on the business, saying the crowd of motorcycles and people have led to a decline in pedestrian flow, with women avoiding the area due to the rowdy crowd and lack of parking.

The SHO of the police station admits that the illegal business of motorcycles takes place with complaints of encroachment and traffic disruption. "We take measures against individuals who disrupt traffic but we cannot take action against those who remain quiet on the sidelines and do not disrupt traffic and encroach," he maintained.