President Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI) Muhammad Saleem Memon has strongly criticised the non-implementation of the Sindh government's directive to eliminate charged parking across the province. According to a press statement released on Thursday, despite the clear announcement by Sindh's Senior Provincial Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, illegal parking fees continue to be collected in various areas of Hyderabad, causing immense distress to traders and the public. The silence of the local administration raises serious concerns.
HCSTSI president emphasised that no formal notification has been issued to enforce the decision, allowing municipal officials and contractors to exploit the situation. In the absence of an official directive from the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), these elements continue to extort money from citizens under the pretence of authorised parking charges.
He stated that all charged parking stands operating in Hyderabad are illegal and thrive due to the connivance of the authorities. Numerous areas, including Resham Bazaar, Cloth Market, Station Road, Qasimabad, Latifabad, Hirabad, and Chandni Mobile Market, remain under the control of parking mafias that forcibly collect fees from thousands of citizens daily. This blatant extortion is nothing short of open looting, the statement said.
The chamber president further highlighted that illegal parking stands not only impose an unjust financial burden on citizens but also contribute to chronic traffic congestion. These unauthorised operators have encroached upon roads outside markets, shopping plazas, hospitals, and commercial centres, making parking a nightmare for traders, customers, and residents. In several locations, mafia elements forcibly occupy spaces and demand fees.
He expressed grave concern over increasing incidents of harassment and intimidation by these operators. Reports of verbal abuse, threats, and even physical altercations have surfaced, with vehicles deliberately damaged when individuals refuse to pay illegal fees. Shockingly, despite these alarming developments, the administration has taken no decisive action.
HCSTSI has repeatedly proposed a structured solution in meetings with the chief minister, the mayor of Hyderabad, and other authorities. The chamber urges the Sindh government to issue a formal notification enforcing the parking ban, take strict action against unauthorised parking stands, and initiate the construction of designated parking plazas to resolve the crisis.
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