FAISALABAD, July 24: Rejecting the parking plan prepared by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) for internal bazaars, local trade associations have threatened to come on to roads and observe a strike if it does not withdraw the contracts forthwith.

At a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Traders Alliance Faisalabad president Munawar A Sheikh, it was decided that trade associations would launch a joint move against the TMA (city) against its decision of awarding contracts of city bazaars for parking purpose.

The meeting noted with concern that despite repeated correspondence and protest letters from trade leaders, the TMA (city) bosses had failed to resolve the issue. They said the business transactions in main bazaars had become standstill. The parking of vehicles in the eight bazaars was against all rules as it was an open ‘encroachment’, the meeting said.

Speaking to the participants, trade leaders Munawar A Sheikh, Talaat Saleem, Zahid Ahmed and Tajammul Hussain said the TMA (city) had violated all agreements and allotted the parking contracts in lust of power.

They said the parking of vehicles in city bazaars not only disfigured the beauty of commercial centres but also created traffic problems in the area.

They pointed out that Rs5 for a bicycle and Rs10 for a motorcycle were being charged by the contractors which was a high rate as compared with almost all the parking rates.

This parking fee was only for three hours while the vehicle owners were being charged double in case of extra time which was against all rules.