FAISALABAD: The district administration is turning a blind eye to overcharging by the Allied Hospital parking lot contractor.

The government has fixed Rs10 as motorcycle parking fee but the contractor gets Rs20 for each bike.

A couple of weeks ago, the assistant commissioner city had taken action against the parking contractor on a complaint of fleecing the motorists. However, nothing is being done against the contractor now and the AC City also preferred to remain tight-lipped in response to queries of this correspondent.

Hundreds of patients, along with their attendants, visit the hospital daily for treatment of ailments. According to sketchy estimate, more than 1,000 bikes are being parked at the hospital stand daily and people from far-flung areas of Faisalabad including Samundari, Dijkot, Tandlianwala, Jaranwala, Chak Jhumra and other areas visit this infirmary on their bikes. There are many complaints of overcharging by the contractor and scuffles between motorists and his men are a routine.

Sources said the contractor was being backed a group of local journalists who allegedly resolved his issues. A couple of weeks ago, the contractor had a scuffle with journalists and he (contractor) had been greasing the palms of these journalists. The hospital administration has also expressed its inability to move against the contractor although it is receiving a number of complaints.

An official said they had imposed Rs5,000 fine on the contractor a couple of weeks and it was the prime responsibility of the district administration to deal with this contractor with an iron hand.

He admitted that the contractor was forcing people to pay Rs 20 for the motorcycle parking and helpless people had no other option but to pay the demanded fee.

Assistant Commissioner City Ayub Bukhari confirmed that parking fee was Rs10. He did not reply when asked why the contractor was receiving Rs20 despite the fact that he had taken action against him a couple of weeks ago.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2020