SEVERAL restaurants, banquets, shopping malls and movie theatres offer valet parking services to their visitors and guests these days. Many a time, people report damage to their vehicles due to the valet’s incompetence, or loss of their personal items, but nothing happens to compensate the owners.

For instance, a person claimed that his vehicle’s tyres had been replaced with low-quality tyres at a valet parking in Karachi. Needless to say, the valet service did not accept its fault.

Young and inexperienced valet drivers can harm vehicles, and can create legal problems for the owners by parking at unreliable and unsafe places. Besides, some people can misuse these vehicles for their illegal activities. Valet parking is a matter of great responsibility as the vehicles cost millions, and it would be pretty difficult for the staff members to be held liable for their acts of irresponsibility. Unfortunately, no laws exist to safeguard the clients’ valuable possessions because valet services and paid parking lots frequently waive culpability for theft or damage when a car is abandoned after being parked.

The authorities concerned should take necessary action and develop proper rules and regulations regarding valet parking.

Shayan Khowaja
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2022