Increasing number of illegal auto workshops, car dealers' shops, illegal encroachments, parking on service roads, footpaths and fruit sellers occupying one third of city's roads are causing traffic jams and creating trouble to commuters in the metropolis.
It has been observed that most of the builders, auto workshops, car dealers, high rise buildings, marriage lawns, schools and hospitals are violating the parking rules and regulations set in Karachi Building & Town Planning Regulation 2002 and the Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979. Majority of them have no proper parking area for their visitors and as a result, cars are being parked along roadsides that cause traffic congestions in the city.
Traffic congestion has become order of the day at MA Jinnah and Tariq Roads as majority of car dealer shops have covered almost 1/3 area of the roads as they park their new and old cars on roads, causing traffic jams.
These owners seem most powerful, who are daringly violate the law by parking their cars on roadsides for sale. No authority could dare to take action against them so far. Most affected roads include University Road, Shahra-e-Kamal Attaturk, University Road, Sadder area, Johar Chowrangi, Ghulshan-e-Iqbal and Malir. The authorities have taken actions against illegal encroachers in Sadder area several times and removed the street venders and fruit sellers, but they have re-encroached the same sites.
DIG Karachi Traffic Polic Amir Ahmed Shaikh said that they had written a letter to Karachi Commissioner, requesting him to send notices to all owners of marriage halls, schools, and hospitals to arrange parking lots for their visitors on urgent basis; otherwise, legal action would be taken against them. He also warned of stern action against owners of auto workshops and car dealers if they don't vacate the roads for traffic.