Free Parking for Karachi: KMC Abolishes Charges on 106 Major Roads

Karachi residents have reason to breathe a sigh of relief as Mayor Murtaza Wahab delivers on his promise to scrap roadside parking fees within the city’s municipal limits. Effective immediately, parking at all Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) designated open spots is now completely free.

This landmark decision is part of the mayor’s broader vision to reduce everyday costs for Karachiites grappling with inflation and rising living expenses. In February, Wahab pledged to remove paid parking on public roads to ease the burden on citizens — and now, he has made good on that promise.

Speaking to Express News, Mayor Wahab explained that until now, KMC generated between Rs 40 to 50 million annually through parking charges across the city’s busiest roads. However, with improvements in KMC’s financial management and increased revenue streams from other municipal services, the city government is no longer reliant on parking fees for income. “KMC is now self-sufficient and doesn’t rely on parking revenue,” Wahab said confidently.

Under this new policy, parking charges are now fully abolished at 46 official parking sites spread across 106 major roads that fall within KMC’s jurisdiction. Orders have already been sent out to KMC’s parking staff, traffic police, and deputy commissioners to stop collecting parking fees at these locations with immediate effect.

Where Will Parking Still Be Charged?

It’s important to note that this relief does not extend to all parking areas in Karachi. Parking fees will still apply at gated or enclosed locations such as Bara Dari, Dolmen Center, Safari Park, Karachi Zoo, and a few other select spots that operate under different management models.

Mayor Wahab also issued a strict warning to anyone attempting to charge parking fees illegally at the newly designated free parking sites. “Anyone caught demanding parking fees where they have been abolished will face strict legal action,” he said.

What About Cantonment Areas?

While this move is a huge relief for residents using KMC roads, the final decision regarding parking fees within the six cantonment board areas of Karachi is still pending. These areas fall outside the KMC’s administrative control and will need separate agreements or notifications.

A Step Towards Citizen-Centric Governance

This bold move by Karachi’s city administration sets a strong precedent for citizen-focused governance. By eliminating parking charges, the KMC is not only providing immediate financial relief to thousands of daily commuters but also addressing the long-standing complaints about unauthorized parking contractors and overcharging.

With rising fuel costs and daily inflation, this decision to abolish roadside parking fees comes as welcome news for Karachi’s motorists. It also highlights the city administration’s commitment to using better revenue management instead of passing the burden onto ordinary citizens.

Afsheen Gohar

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