QUETTA: Members of the Balochistan Assembly criticised on Monday paid parking introduced by the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) in the city and called for its immediate withdrawal, saying it was “increasing traffic jams and other problems”.

Shahida Rauf from the opposition raised the issue on a point of order and termed the OMC move a Ghunda Tax.

She said that workers of parking contractor had been receiving Rs30 to 40 per vehicle, but they took no responsibility in case any vehicle was stolen or went missing from the parking area.

“They have printed on their receipts that the contractor will not be responsible for theft or missing of any vehicle,” Ms Rauf said. Waving a receipt, she said the matter should be made part of the assembly record.

She said that parking lot had been made along narrow main roads which created traffic jams and caused problems for people.

“The contractor should be made responsible in case of theft or any vehicle going missing from the parking place,” Ms Rauf demanded.

Dr Shama Ishaq, another MPA, also opposed paid parking and said that when the contractor was receiving parking charges how could he say he was not responsible for the theft of the vehicle from the parking place?

Dr Ruqyyia Saeed Hashmi asked under what law the paid parking had been introduced on roads already unable to handle increasing number of vehicles.

Provincial Minister for Health Rehmat Saleh Baloch said that paid parking was unjust. He said the QMC had introduced it on roads around the Sandman Civil Hospital without the permission of hospital authorities. He expressed concern over the QMC’s decision and said that in the garb of paid parking anything could happen near the hospital.

“Terrorists can use the parking area for their activities,” he said and demanded removal of paid parking from congested areas of Quetta city.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Forest Minister Obaidullah Babit and Syed Liaquat Agha of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, however, supported the QMC move and claimed that the system of paid parking was in vogue in all developed countries and even in other big cities of the country.

Mr Ziaratwal said that the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation had its own laws and under these laws it could impose taxes or take decisions.

He, however, said that the contractor of the paid parking should be made responsible for taking care of vehicles for which he was paid money.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2015

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