RAWALPINDI: In line with orders of the Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar and the traffic police DIG, a “grand operation” against vendors and illegal parking was launched in the city, in which several kiosks, stalls, and vendors were removed from roads with their belongings being taken into custody by police.

The efforts to remove encroachments, however, proved unsuccessful as stalls and vendors reappeared on roads “within 24 hours” of the operation. “Yes, I have brought back my tables and other items, which were taken away by the traffic police,” said a vendor. He claimed vendors get tip-offs from officials concerned ahead of such crackdowns against encroachments.

“It is a very common practice that whenever, once a month, the anti-encroachment exercise is carried out, the vendors disappear for some time. They again take to the roads and footpaths as soon as the RDA’s staff moves ahead,” the vendor claimed. After the IGP ordered action against encroachments, the traffic police cleared various areas of Raja Bazar and seized the property as well. More than 80 vehicles and motorcycles were issued challan tickets for parking violations.

A police spokesman said that a grand operation was launched against “the encroachment mafia” in Bara Bazar, Imperial Market, Liaquat Road, and Raja Bazar besides action against roadside vendors.

Vendor claims they are tipped before such operations;Police mull strategy to stop recurrence of encroachments

Similarly, traffic police officers have been appointed with the relevant organisations to eliminate encroachments. After the anti-encroachment operation, check and balance will also be kept to discourage encroachers, he said.

He claimed the public will see a clear improvement in the flow of traffic as a result of the operation. Special tasks have been assigned to the in charge of the education wing to educate the citizens about parking and other traffic rules.

On the other hand, despite clear directives of Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha, who is the administrator of Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), the civic body has failed to remove encroachments from Commercial Market, Murree Road, Bara Bazaar, Raja Bazaar and adjoining areas. The RMC planned to make some roads free from all kinds of encroachments which included Commercial Market, Murree Road, Bara Bazaar, Bazaar Talwaran, Sabzi Mandi and China Market.

On May 8, the RMC issued notices to shopkeepers to remove the encroachments in front of their shops and footpaths. The deadline given to the shopkeepers has expired. Due to encroachments in the garrison city, markets and bazaars present a sorry state of affairs and show poor performance of the civic body.

The local residents are facing a number of problems. The cart pushers and vendors have encroached on footpaths and roads. During a visit to the downtown, one find it difficult to move around. The visitors complain that traffic jams have become a regular occurrence due to the encroachments. A senior official of the district administration said that Murree Road will be made a model soon and no one will be allowed to set up illegal stalls there. Action will be taken against shop owners who allow these stalls and carts to occupy space in front of their shops, he said.

He said that the anti-encroachment operation had been started with the cooperation of the business community. He said that traders were interested in ending encroachments.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that traders demanded an end to the encroachments as that were creating problems for customers to visit bazaars and markets.

He said traders would cooperate with the administration if it clear the roads and footpaths from the encroachments. He said that there was a dire need to construct parking plazas in different areas so the people would park their vehicles there instead of roadsides.

“There is no space for parking in Raja Bazaar and adjoining markets. Fawara Chowk Parking Plaza is not sufficient to meet the requirement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2023