ILLEGAL PARKING CHARGES: High-density commercial zones in Lahore, like Liberty Market and M.M. Alam Road, have been completely abandoned to unregulated, illegal parking mafias. Due to the chronic shortage of functional, public parking plazas managed by the state, private operators illegally occupy public roads and charge citizens well above the officially mandated town municipal rates. Those who refuse to pay these illegal charges face harassment, while the resulting roadside double-parking creates massive, artificial gridlocks across Gulberg. The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and the Lahore Parking Company (LePARK) must reclaim these public spaces, enforce official parking rates, and penalise the unauthorised mafias.

Maham Manzoor
Lahore

DENGUE CASES: According to the District Health Office (DHO) data, Islamabad has recorded 21 dengue cases since Oct 5. Rawalpindi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have also seen a rise in infection. Health authorities have launched dengue prevention campaigns, like public awareness and SMS alerts, but prevention also requires public cooperation. Stagnant water around the homes, and in the streets is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The government should strengthen anti-dengue campaigns, and citizens should take precautions and cooperate with the health authorities.

Zobia Zaitoon
Islamabad

PRIDE OF PERFORMANCE: This is with reference to the letter ‘A cultural icon forgotten already’ (Nov 1). Syed Kamal migrated to Pakistan in 1956 and first appeared in Shabab Kairanvi’s film Thandi Sarak. He was truly multitalented. I met Kamal at an event organised by our music club where he was the chief guest. In his speech, he had lamented that a number of his counterparts had received the Pride of Performance Award, but he was not among them. It is time the government considered awarding the man posthumously for his multidimensional services to the cause of promoting art and culture in Pakistan.

Parvez Rahim
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2026