ONE of the busiest thorougfares of Karachi, from Five Star roundabout to Sakhi Hasan is the scene of perpetual traffic congestion. One reason for the traffic jams is the numerous wedding and banquet halls within a two-km radius.

These halls which number more than 50, have no car parking worth the name. The halls, run on a commercial basis, are on plots that once housed palatial homes. The civic amenities available there are for residential purposes. Hence the traffic jams.

The people who attend functions at these halls — park their vehicles, large vehicles carrying bridal processions on the service lane — and the adjoining main road blocking almost half of the main thoroughfare and hampering traffic flow.

The traffic congestion is getting worse as high-rise apartments are fast coming up in the same area and more halls are also opening their doors for business. The authorities should pay heed to this matter.

Aiman Inam

Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2016