Karachi residents have received a major relief as authorities successfully cracked down on illegal charged parking in Saddar, one of the city’s busiest and most densely populated commercial hubs. The operation, aimed at restoring order and curbing unauthorised fee collection, targeted key areas including Saddar Mobile Market, Cooperative Market, Abdullah Haroon Road, and the vicinity of Zainab Market.
Led by Assistant Commissioner General Kazim Bhangwar, the crackdown involved coordinated efforts from the Anti-Encroachment Police, the Deputy Director of Anti-Encroachment, and other relevant departments. During the operation, several motorcycles used in illegal parking schemes were seized, highlighting the scale of the organised network controlling these unauthorised operations.
The district administration reported that over the past four days, 24 individuals operating illegal parking activities have been arrested, with formal FIRs registered against them. The anti-encroachment drive also targeted commercial establishments supporting these illicit activities, resulting in the sealing of more than 300 shops and hotels and the registration of cases against 12 individuals.
Sources revealed that members of the parking and encroachment mafias fled the area and shut down their businesses as soon as enforcement teams arrived, reflecting the swift and decisive nature of the crackdown. Authorities say the action is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal practices, improve traffic flow, and maintain law and order in Saddar and surrounding areas, providing much-needed relief to residents and commuters alike.
