Parking mafia in Karachi—II

5. Why this continues

Core reasons

• Daily cash incentives

• Lack of political will

• Weak prosecution

• Fragmented authority (KMC, Police, Cantonment Boards)

• Absence of digital parking systems

READ MORE: Parking mafia in Karachi—I

Illegal parking has become a parallel revenue economy.

6. Consequences for the City

• Public harassment and extortion

• Traffic congestion

• Damage to vehicles

• Erosion of trust in law enforcement

• Encouragement of petty corruption

• Lawlessness becoming “normal”

A city cannot function when illegality wears a uniform of routine.

7. What Media & Courts Have Noted (Broadly)

• Multiple media exposés over the years

• Public interest petitions filed

• Temporary crackdowns — followed by quiet return of the mafia

• No sustained structural reform

Enforcement without reform equals theatre.

8. What Needs to Be Done (Practical Reforms)

Immediate

• Zero-tolerance enforcement against illegal collectors

• Public helpline with rapid response

• Protection for citizens refusing payment

Structural

• Digital parking zones with QR payment

• Clear demarcation of paid vs free areas

• Revenue directly credited to city account

• Unified parking authority for Karachi

Legal

• Criminal cases against organisers, not collectors

• Departmental accountability for officers posted in mafia zones

Conclusion

Karachi’s parking mafia is not merely about money — it is about who controls public space.

When a citizen cannot park for five minutes without paying an illegal fee, the state has surrendered a basic civic function.

A city that cannot protect a parked car cannot protect the rule of law.

(Concluded)

Saeed Rasheed (Karachi)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026