Sindh abolishes parking fees across Karachi roads

(Web Desk): The Sindh government has officially abolished parking charges on public roads across all 25 towns of Karachi, as per a notification issued by the Local Government Department on Friday.

The move follows directives from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and is part of a broader policy to provide free parking in public areas.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed the decision, calling it a "citizen-first" initiative aimed at easing the burden on the public. He added that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) remains financially stable despite the removal of parking fees.

Under the new policy, parking fees will only be allowed in specific zones, such as commercial plots, designated parking plazas, and council-authorized areas. “No institution is now permitted to collect parking fees on public roads,” the official notification stated.

The directive is already being enforced on 46 major roads, with phased implementation planned across the rest of the city. A formal enforcement campaign has been launched by the Local Government Department.

All Town Municipal Corporations have been instructed to halt parking fee collection immediately. Municipal commissioners have been warned that non-compliance will result in legal action.

The department also emphasized that any illegal collection of parking charges will be dealt with strictly. “Action against the parking mafia has begun, and unauthorized fee collectors will not be spared,” it said.

Authorities reaffirmed that fee collection outside of designated areas is now fully prohibited. Immediate disciplinary action will be taken against municipal officials who fail to implement the new policy.

The directive builds upon an earlier KMC decision and now expands free parking enforcement citywide, aiming to ensure fair and accessible urban mobility for all citizens.