KMC ends charged parking at 32 roads

KARACHI:

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) partially abolished its charged parking system, ending parking fees at 32 designated locations under its control, starting July 1. However, charged parking will continue across the city's 25 towns, six cantonments, and areas managed by different authorities.

According to the KMC notification, charged parking was discontinued on various roads in KMC-administered areas, including at 20 locations in District East, seven in Korangi and Malir, three in District South, and two in Keamari. Additionally, 10 parking sites within boundary walls in District Central and District South were exempted from parking fees.

This move is part of a decision announced earlier this year by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who committed to eliminating parking fees at 45 out of 106 KMC-controlled sites, in the new fiscal year.

Interestingly, despite abolishing fees from these parking areas, KMC's projected revenue from parking remains unchanged. According to the approved city budget, the target for parking revenue in the last FY was Rs105 million, with the same figure set for the upcoming FY. Meanwhile, expected income from parking at wedding halls and banquets has increased from Rs5 million to Rs10 million.

Most charged parking continues to take place in the Saddar Town area, which houses the largest concentration of commercial centers. Saddar Town's Director of Charged Parking, Basheer Memon, clarified that charged parking on roads managed by towns and cantonments remains unaffected by KMC's recent decision.