RAWALPINDI: Traders in Raja Bazaar have expressed their reservations over the local administration’s plan to turn the area from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road into a pedestrian street.

They asked Commissioner Aamir Khattak to constructed at least three parking plazas before executing the plan.

The commissioner while chairing a meeting with the traders’ union said close coordination between the district administration and traders would be ensured so that most issues could be resolved at the ground level.

“There shouldn’t be any coordination gap in this regard,” he said.

Traders’ representative says they have reservations about administration’s move to stop visitors from entering main road

The meeting held at the commissioner’s office was attended by Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and representatives of other bazaars.

Mr Khattak directed that potential parking places be identified with joint efforts of the district administration and traders in order to deal with traffic congestion and parking issues.

The traders mentioned some points including Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation’s vacant plot on Jinnah Road, water supply vehicles’ space of Wasa and a plot owned by Auqaf department which can be used to create parking spaces.

The commissioner directed the district administration to send the assistant commissioner to visit these places and submit a report. He said funds for mega projects of Rawalpindi Ring Road and Daducha Dam had been released and the ongoing work would be expedited.

He welcomed the traders’ proposals for maintaining law and order in the city and improving the business atmosphere. He said the business community and the administration should take steps in coordination to provide relief to the citizens.

He said every possible step was being taken to provide an environment-friendly business atmosphere for traders so that economic activities can be increased. He said the proposals of traders were being incorporated, particularly in the master planning of Rawalpindi.

“The master plan will be completed within the next two months. Under the plan, grain, vegetable and fruit markets, bus stands, truck stands and wholesale market will be shifted out of the city,” he said.

He directed to increase the supply of goods in order to reduce the prices of essential commodities. Also, traders should monitor overcharging in their markets in such a way that magistrates do not need to intervene.

After the meeting, the Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said traders were not against the beautification plan in Raja Bazaar but had reservations over the administration’s move to stop visitors from entering the main road from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road.

“There are dozens of markets in Raja Bazaar and people from Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Murree and even Khyber Pakhunkhwa come here for shopping. It would be difficult to stop loading vehicles from entering the markets,” he said.

Mr Paracha said traders want effective plan so business activities increased in the main commercial hub of the region.

He said the commissioner assured them to solve the problems and bring an effective and manageable plan for the beautification as well traffic congestion in the downtown area.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2025