Parking mafia in Karachi—II
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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