Rawalpindi Businesspeople Protest Against Pedestrian-Only Road and Parking Fees
In Rawalpindi, Pakistan, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has faced protests from the Anjuman-e-Tajran, a group of local businesspeople. They are upset about the decision to make Bank Road a pedestrian-only area and the introduction of a tiered parking fee at Potohar Parking-1. The new parking fees are PKR 50 for the first hour and PKR 100 for the next hour. These changes are part of a PKR 830 million project aimed at underground cabling and beautification in the Saddar Commercial area, which includes several major roads.
The business community argues that these measures are “anti-business” and were implemented without consulting the project’s string committee. In response, they have decided to close their shops and return their keys to the board. Zafar Qadri, the General Secretary of Anjuman-e-Tajran Rawalpindi Cantt, announced a press conference to discuss further actions. He expressed the traders’ concerns and frustrations over the board’s decisions.
On the other hand, RCB Assistant Secretary Rashid Saqib defended the measures, stating that road closures would occur in phases to aid construction. He also mentioned that the pedestrian zone proposal for Bank Road would be reviewed by cantonment officials before any final decisions are made.
Doubts Revealed
Rawalpindi -: Rawalpindi is a city in Pakistan, which is a country that shares a border with India. It’s known for its historical significance and is close to the capital city, Islamabad.
Cantonment Board -: A Cantonment Board is a local government body in charge of managing areas where military personnel live. In India, similar boards manage areas around military bases.
Pedestrian-Only Road -: A pedestrian-only road is a street where only people walking are allowed, and no vehicles can drive through. This is done to make the area safer and more pleasant for walking.
Tiered Parking Fee -: A tiered parking fee means that the cost of parking varies based on certain conditions, like the time of day or the duration of parking. It’s like paying different prices for a movie ticket depending on the showtime.
Anti-business -: Anti-business means actions or decisions that make it difficult for businesses to operate or make money. In this context, the businesspeople feel the new rules will hurt their ability to attract customers.
RCB Assistant Secretary -: RCB stands for Rawalpindi Cantonment Board. The Assistant Secretary is a person who helps manage the board’s activities and decisions.
