The administration has decided not to allow parking in the area surrounding the plaza to ensure the free flow of traffic.
On Thursday, police cordoned off the area early in the morning. To guide the public, traffic police were deployed in the area. When the police stopped some businessmen from parking their vehicles in front of their shops they argued vociferously. However, the police refused to relent. The protest grew as the shopkeepers were joined by some customers who were similarly denied parking in the area.
The traders said that the parking plaza was meant for shoppers and that shop owners should still be allowed to park in front of their stores. “Ending free parking for the shops is unfair step,” said a businessman, adding that parking the car in the plaza meant a daily cost of Rs100. He said he could manage to pay but his junior staff would suffer.
A restaurant manager said, “Our take-out window has been badly effected.” If the picket stayed, the manager said, they would be forced to close their window.
The customers were no less annoyed. Ali Raza complained, “I just want to pick up my photo album from a shop which would take me five minutes at the most.” He asked why he should be forced to park his car in the plaza. “We wanted to order some take-away from a restaurant,” said Waseem Tariq, adding that now he would have to park, pay the plaza and then return for his car which would take a lot longer than usual. Tariq said that he would be better off finding another restaurant.
As the protest continued, the chief minister (CM)’s adviser, Khwaja Imran Raza, reached the area and tried to pacify the protestors.
He said that the plaza would be useless if the public continued to park their vehicles in front of the shops. He asked people to cooperate with the police to make the system a success.
The traders insisted that they must be provided free parking in front of their stores.
“I will take your message to the chief minister but I doubt that he will permit it,” Raza responded.
On being asked what would happen once the plaza filled up, Raza said street parking might be allowed then.
In the evening, however, the police removed the barriers and allowed cars into the area.
Asked if free parking would be permitted, the traffic police DSP said that they were just following orders.
Model road
DCO Ahad Cheema, expressed his disappointment over the state of Ferozepur Road, one of the models roads. While presiding over a meeting he directed the concerned officials to repair and widen the link roads leading to the newly-announced Aashiyana Housing Scheme.
He gave a one-month deadline for the completion of work on Ferozepur Road.
He ordered officials to complete the work in record time because the required machinery and manpower had been provided to the departments. Cheema also instructed town officials to shift electric poles currently erected on Ghazi Road. The DCO said that the encroachments from Mozang Chungi to Suae Aasi should be removed immediately.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2010.
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