CS orders crackdown on illegal bachat bazaars, parking lots

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah chaired a high-level meeting to address Karachi's persistent traffic challenges. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, DIG Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi, and other senior officials. During the meeting, key issues leading to the city's traffic problems were discussed, along with strategies to tackle them.

Commissioner Naqvi provided a briefing, highlighting that 145 bachat bazaars are regularly set up across the city. However, he noted that unauthorized bachat bazaars have become a significant issue, causing traffic congestion in many areas. He pointed out that staff from town administrations are often involved in issuing illegal NOCs for these markets, exacerbating the problem.

Additionally, he informed the meeting that Karachi currently has 400 charged parking sites, many of which are improperly located on key thoroughfares, severely disrupting the flow of traffic.

The chief secretary expressed serious concern over the unchecked growth of charged parking areas across the city, which have begun to block the public's right of way. He pointed out that these unauthorized parking sites not only violate city planning norms but also create significant obstacles for commuters.

He stressed that such encroachments must be addressed immediately and directed the relevant authorities to launch a crackdown on these illegal parking areas. He further instructed that all parking facilities adhere to proper regulations and be relocated away from thoroughfares to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Asif Hyder Shah directed the relevant authorities to provide comprehensive details of all legal and illegal bachat bazaars and charged parking sites in the city. He emphasized that the secretary of local government, KMC, DMCs, towns, and cantonment boards must submit these details within three days.

The chief secretary also announced that the issuance of NOCs for bachat bazaars will be regulated to ensure compliance with traffic laws. Furthermore, he instructed that no bachat bazaar should be allowed to operate without obtaining prior clearance from the traffic police.

Highlighting the adverse impact of bachat bazaars on traffic flow, the CS emphasized the need to remove all illegal parking spaces located on roads. He called for immediate action to eliminate unauthorized parking and stressed that proper traffic engineering must be employed to redesign irregular U-turns across the city.

He also directed that encroachments on service roads of major thoroughfares be removed, ensuring the complete restoration of these roads for public use. He further instructed the installation of proper traffic signboards across all major routes in the city to enhance traffic management and safety. He reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving Karachi’s traffic problems and ensuring smoother mobility for its residents.