ILLEGAL PARKING FEE: Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab recently abolished parking fee at 46 sites falling within the jurisdiction of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) across 106 main roads. This was done to facilitate the people. However, the parking mafia continues to extort illegal parking fee from the public across numerous locations, including Rashid Minhas Road near Aladdin Park, KDA Market in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, the commercial area in Bahadurabad, outside Atrium Mall and the Mobile Market in Saddar. The individuals collecting the fee claim to be KMC officials without any official identification and authorisation. Upon payment refusal, vehicles are towed away by local authorities to nearby police stations. The authorities should arrest those who collect illegal charges from motorists.

Rabiya Batavia
Karachi

POLITICAL PRIORITIES: In Pakistan, the persistent threat of terrorism, insurgencies, and cross-border conflicts has often diverted political attention from developmental priorities. The focus on counter-terrorism measures often leads to an imbalance in resource allocation, with significant funds directed towards defence and security at the expense of social welfare and economic development. Political leaders face the challenge of balancing immediate security needs with the broader goal of national progress.Addressing these issues requires a collaborative effort between political leaders, security agencies, and civil society. Truly, a stable political environ-ment is crucial for fostering effective governance and ensuring the safety and prosperity of the nation.

Sara Arif
Karachi

WATER TREATMENT: Karachi’s waste continues to flow untreated into the sea, making the light olive green shore waters mix with the murky grey of the sewage. This needs to be acknowledged, recognised and sorted out. Treatment plants need to be revitalised, and new ones should be installed.

Tariq Alexander Qaiser
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025