**Summary:**
Residents of Rawalpindi have voiced increasing frustration over persistent traffic congestion, primarily blaming the unauthorized street markets and those allegedly protecting their operation. Despite claims by municipal authorities of regular actions against illegal vendors, citizens say these measures are superficial and ineffective, fueling daily hardships for commuters and pedestrians.
**Full Article:**
Rawalpindi continues to grapple with growing traffic congestion, with local residents identifying unauthorized street markets as the principal culprit. These makeshift bazaars, frequently set up by vendors on Rawal Road—a key thoroughfare in the city—are said to obstruct pedestrian movement and exacerbate traffic jams on a daily basis.
Eyewitnesses report that the situation has become so dire that walking along this busy road is now extremely challenging. Residents accuse municipal workers and certain officials of not only turning a blind eye but, in some cases, allegedly facilitating these illegal vending setups. They claim that official crackdowns are rare and largely symbolic, occurring perhaps once a month with just a few fines handed out to create an illusion of enforcement.
Sources allege that many of the street vendors have close connections with municipal staff. Reportedly, these vendors are tipped off in advance about upcoming enforcement operations, allowing them to temporarily vacate the area and return once inspectors leave. As a result, the illegal markets quickly resume business as usual, rendering official interventions ineffective.
Attempts to formally address these concerns have, so far, met with limited success. Complaints to the Municipal Officer Regulations (MOR) have only resulted in staged enforcement drives that have little lasting impact, residents say. Official records, however, indicate that routine inspections and fines are conducted, suggesting a discrepancy between reported activities and observable results on the ground.
Mr. Maqsood, the head of all inspectors for the area, insists that daily operations are carried out, and that field officers are active in enforcing the law. However, critics question why these illegal markets persist if such actions are truly effective. When asked for further clarification, Masood, another responsible official, deferred to the department’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) for details—although the PRO department has reportedly been non-operational for the past ten months.
One recent enforcement operation, initiated in response to a complaint, was led by Additional CEO Ali Imran, who claimed that the area had been completely cleared. However, locals noted that the unauthorized market reappeared the very next day, with only a handful of vendors facing penalties in official records, despite over 70 stalls typically present at the site.
The ongoing struggle has led to calls from area residents urging the Punjab Chief Minister and the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi to intervene decisively. They are demanding a permanent end to unauthorized markets and strict legal action against those supporting or enabling these activities, in hopes of setting a deterrent example.
