THERE is a parking lot on the left side of the Karachi Press Club, which is supposed to be operated by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

Thinking it to be official parking lot, I have been using it by paying Rs20. Recently, I parked my car there. To my surprise, Rs50 was demanded. The person demanding money was without a uniform.

I asked him for his identity card. He had none. When I refused to pay, another person, presumably his boss, demanded payment and confessed they were illegally charging and insisted I pay Rs30.

To avoid any scene I paid and left. The so-called boss also told me that there was a court ruling against charged parking at the location.

Will the authorities concerned inform us about the actual status of that parking lot and who runs it? If this is a legal parking area, then authorities should put up a notice with the amount to be paid, while the payment collector must have an identity card and a letter of authority.

Name withheld on request

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2017