MINGORA, Nov 10: Shoppers at the markets of the city face a number of problems because of pollution and encroachment and the authorities have failed to take action in this regard.

The rickshaw drivers use every crossing and square as a stand, causing hardship to the pedestrians. The handcarts add to the problems.

The drivers of public transport use pressure horns in the busy bazaars during rush hours.

The shopkeepers have encroached upon the footpaths and displayed items on both sides of the roads, especially during Ramazan.

The traffic police are few in number and they don’t take action against the transporters.   The drivers park their vehicles in front of shops on the busy market streets, creating hurdles in the flow of traffic.

At the main crossings of Suhrab Khan, Nishat, Green, Taj, Haji Baba, Gulshan and People’s chowks, the problem is more serious. In the peak hours and in the evening, traffic jams occur almost daily.

Trucks and Datsun pick-ups are loaded and unloaded through handcarts that take the luggage to and from the shops in narrow lanes.

In the past it was proposed that the trucks would be loaded and unloaded in the night so that traffic was not disturbed but the order could not be implemented.

Some private vehicles use sirens to clear the way despite a ban on the use of pressure horns in the city, especially in the vicinity of hospitals and schools.  

The municipal committee has tried to remove encroachment from the markets but it has not succeeded as the district Nazim and police did not take the transporters and shopkeepers in confidence in this regard.