KARACHI: Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday announced immediate steps to improve the traffic system in Saddar and other areas in South district of the city where multiple spots have been identified for building parking spaces.

The mayor said that after Eid, a parking facility accommodating 500 vehicles will be made operational at one of the spaces identified in the district.

“I have also requested the Sindh governor as he’s representative of federation here to play his role for the allocation of Pakistan Railways land to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation,” he said while talking to reporters at Empress Market which he visited to review restoration work.

“If approved, this will significantly resolve parking issues in and around I.I. Chundrigar Road. To further address the growing parking challenges, additional parking areas will be established in Saddar, Bolton Market, and other key locations. We have already made plans to systematically address on-street parking problems across Karachi.”

Inspects Empress Market renovation work

Mayor Wahab highlighted the growing congestion in the city, stating that Karachi’s daily increasing population and rising number of vehicles are causing severe traffic problems. Unorganised traffic, he said, leads to wastage of time and fuel, increasing frustration, stress, and aggression among citizens. To counter this, he urged the traffic police administration to deploy more personnel in high-traffic zones to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

Appealing to the public, the mayor requested the citizens to park their vehicles only in designated parking areas. He emphasised that with millions of people commuting daily for work and other activities, an efficient traffic management system is crucial to avoid unnecessary disruptions.

During his visit, Mayor Wahab also inspected the restoration work inside Empress Market and the directed officials to ensure the complete removal of encroachments both inside and outside the market. He reiterated that Empress Market is an iconic landmark of Karachi, and if encroachments persist, traffic congestion and parking issues will remain unresolved.

“Empress Market holds sentimental value for the citizens of Karachi, as people from various parts of the city visit to purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, spices, grains, and dry fruits. Its proper restoration and management are vital for the city’s heritage and smooth traffic flow,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025