Karachi, one of the most densely populated urban centers in the world, faces several challenges related to urban planning and infrastructure. One of the most persistent problems in the old areas of the city is the serious shortage of parking spaces combined with the widespread high -handfulness of the police, especially traffic and local law enforcement staff taking advantage of the situation to extract bribes from helpless drivers and motorcycle riders. The question has grown over time and has become a cause of daily frustration, financial burden and in many cases public resentment.
The old areas of Karachi, such as Saddar, Kharadar, Mithadar, Bolton Market, Burns Road and Parts of Garden, were never planned with motor vehicles in mind. These areas were developed under the British colonial rule and reflect the architectural and bourgeois layout in a swunen time. Narrow streets, tightly packed buildings and lack of open spaces leave little to no room for parking a large number of vehicles. Despite this, these areas remain important commercial and housing zones that attract thousands of people every day.
The situation has worsened in recent years due to the increase in the vehicle’s ownership. As the middle class has expanded, several families own cars and motorcycles. Still, the city’s infrastructure has not kept pace. There are no decent parking spaces in multorist in most old areas, and the few are either poorly maintained or non -functional. This means that drivers and bicycle owners are forced to park, no matter where they find space, which is often on footpaths, near the intersection or along the already narrow roads. The lack of appropriate parking regulations and facilities results in serious traffic jams, especially in the peak amount.
In the midst of this chaos, the construction of the law enforcement authorities has become a matter of concern. Instead of helping manage the situation or guiding motorists to safer parking options, many police personnel see the parking crisis as an opportunity for personal gains. It is now a common sight to witness traffic police and other uniformed staff that stop vehicles, especially motorcyclists, on the pretext of checking documents or pointing out minor violations. The real goal is in most cases to request bribery.
Motorists in areas such as Saddar complain that even when they park their vehicles carefully and without preventing traffic, they are often contacted by policemen who demand money. If someone refuses to pay, they are threatened with heavy fines, their vehicles are jammed or dragged, or they are harassed in other ways. Owners of motorcycle, often working -class people who cannot afford such repetitive payments, are especially vulnerable. Many of them complain that even with valid documents and helmets, they are stopped and asked to “pay something for tea”.
There is also a network of the so -called parkingers, some of whom have been officially appointed by municipal authorities, while others operate without any legal authority. In both cases, many of them work in connection with the police. They charge parking fees from drivers without issuing receipts and sharing the proceeds with the local police officers. In the absence of regulated parking, these companions define public spaces as their personal parking spaces and charge arbitrary amounts. When asked, they often respond with threats or point to a nearby policeman who is probably part of the event.
This culture of exploitation is severely ingrained and difficult to challenge. Ordinary citizens who are already struggling with rising inflation, poor public transport and high fuel costs feel helpless. There is no dedicated forum or complaint mechanism where people can report such events with any hope of action. Attempts to complain at local police stations often result in further harassment or are completely ignored. Meanwhile, senior officials in the traffic police and the city administration either turn a blind eye or issue routine statements that make little difference on the ground.
There have been several attempts to regulate parking in Old Karachi in the past. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the now closed Karachi-Transport Itehad, have suggested building underground or multorist parking spaces, but most of these projects have either stopped or failed because of the lack of political will, poor planning or corruption. Empress Market Parking Plaza, once hailed as a solution to Saddar’s traffic problems, remains under-utilized due to poor access and maintenance problems. Similarly, Ma Jinnah Road -parking proposals have never realized for practical solutions.
What aggravates the case is the complete absence of alternative transport options. If people had reliable, clean and secure public transport, many would gladly leave their cars and cycles at home. But Karachi’s public transport system is in ruins. Rickshaws are expensive, buses are crowded and insecure, and the Ride-Hailing services are not affordable on a daily basis. As a result, people are dependent on private transport, which only increases the number of vehicles on roads and aggravates the parking problem.
The increase in the number of motorcycles has created its own set of problems. Bicycles take up less space, but are easier targets for both extortion and theft. Motorcyclists often park their vehicles in small corners, but even then they are not spared by greedily police staff. Many say they keep small church communities of money in their pockets specifically to pay the police if they are stopped. It has become part of the cost of daily commuting. The psychological toll for this harassment should not be underestimated. It creates a climate of fear, anger and distrust of public institutions.
In addition, the lack of proper urban planning continues to add fuel to the fire. Since older buildings are replaced by malls and commercial centers, there is no enforcement of building statutes that require developers to include parking spaces. This results in huge structures without any parking provision spilling more vehicles on the streets. When complaints are collected, the answer is often that the Landmafia and powerful developers are too influential to be regulated.
The media has occasionally highlighted this problem, but the coverage tends to be sporadic and lacks follow -up. There are few in -depth investigations or sustained campaigns to postpone the nexus between parking persons, police and corrupt officials. Without public pressure and true political will to solve these problems, the situation is unlikely to improve.
To tackle these problems, a multpronget approach is necessary. The city needs proper urban planning that takes into account the realities of the vehicle’s growth. Multistorey parking spaces must be built in old areas and existing ones must be upgraded and made available. Technology can also play a role. E.g. Can digital parking meters, mobile apps and centralized complaint systems bring some transparency to the system. The most important thing is that police reforms need to be implemented to tackle the question of bribery and high -handfulness. Officers found guilty of extortion should be penalized publicly for being an example.
Community involvement is also important. Local residents and business owners should be consulted in planning and enforcement decisions. If people feel they have an effort to maintain order and justice, they are more likely to cooperate. Civil society organizations and urban planners must be involved in policy formulation to ensure sustainable, human-friendly solutions.
The parking crisis in Karachi’s old areas is not just about space. It is a symptom of deeper mistakes in governance, planning and law enforcement. The daily suffering of ordinary citizens, the police’s uncontrolled power and the growing frustration of the streets must be taken seriously. A city cannot function smoothly when its residents are treated as criminals just to try to park their vehicles. It is time for the authorities to listen to the people and take meaningful steps to restore order, justice and dignity in public life.
The author is an experienced journalist and a communication professional. He can be reached at [email protected]
