Shoppers face parking extortion
As Ramazan nears its conclusion and Eidul Fitr shopping reaches its peak, profiteers have adopted new tactics to exploit citizens, taking advantage of the lack of effective price control mechanisms.
While a slight reduction in the prices of perishable goods has been observed across the city, public transport operators and parking contractors have significantly raised tariffs due to the massive influx of Eid shoppers.
Fares for private rickshaws and ride-hailing services have surged by 30 per cent to 70% as demand escalates. Additionally, numerous unauthorised parking stands have emerged in major commercial areas, set up by traders' unions and local influential people who are charging exorbitant fees.
Even officials from the Lahore Parking Company (LePark), responsible for ensuring safe and regulated parking facilities in the city, have been accused of overcharging citizens.
In several busy shopping hubs, including Hall Road, Gulberg, Garden Town, Iqbal Town, and Township, private parking operators are charging up to Rs200 per hour. These individuals claim that since they are operating on private property, they are not subject to official district administration regulations, which mandate a parking fee of Rs30 for cars and Rs10 for motorcycles.
Numerous motorists and bikers voiced their concerns regarding overcharging. Usman Khan, a shopper at Hall Road, told The Express Tribune that parking contractors, allegedly in collusion with district and town administrations, LePark, and city police, are openly demanding inflated parking fees.
Many contractors use self-printed receipts that either lack specified charges or have amounts altered with a marker. Motorcyclists are being charged Rs30 to Rs50, well above the official Rs10 fee.
Muhammad Rashid, another shopper, reported that parking stands near Hafeez Centre and plazas along Gulberg Main Boulevard are charging hourly parking rates, demanding Rs200 to Rs300 per hour from motorists. He noted that big shopping malls are also imposing a Rs100 parking fee per car, with no apparent regulatory oversight.
Public transport fares have also skyrocketed in the wake of increased demand. Commuters complained of fare hikes on ride-hailing platforms and local transport services, with some drivers justifying the surge due to high demand. The lack of enforcement of official transport rates has further exacerbated the issue, leaving daily commuters burdened with additional costs.
Amid mounting complaints, the district administration has taken limited action against the overcharging operators. The Lahore deputy commissioner stated that operations against illegal parking stands and profiteers are ongoing, with a focus on curbing exploitation of commuters.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) highlighted a recent incident at the Dharmpura Bazaar parking stand, where an LPC official was found guilty of excessive fee collection. Following verification, the official was arrested, and legal proceedings have been initiated against him.
The deputy commissioner warned that individuals caught overcharging at parking facilities will face strict legal consequences. However, despite these measures, the problem persists, and government efforts to regulate profiteering remain largely ineffective.
Traders and transporters continue to take advantage of regulatory loopholes, making it difficult for authorities to maintain control.
Consumer rights activists have urged the government to introduce stricter penalties and enhance monitoring mechanisms to protect citizens from unfair pricing. They argue that without a robust enforcement strategy, profiteering will remain a persistent issue, particularly during peak shopping seasons like Eid.