Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) have announced their intention to undertake a joint operation against land encroachments in the city, a news source reported. Further, the two institutions plan to address parking issues, rebuild public toilets and complete pending development projects in Rawalpindi.
RCCI President Saboor Malik emphasised the need for a detailed plan to solve the problem of encroachments in the city and promised total support from the trader’s community. He said that businesses were suffering from financial losses caused by severe encroachment issues since there was little room for pedestrians to walk and they could not commute freely in the markets.
He also said that the city was becoming overcrowded and congested which is why an intelligent plan was needed to handle the parking problems on an urgent basis. He suggested the construction of a multi-storey parking plaza and offered help to find areas for its construction in the city. One such parking plaza has already been approved for the city.
In response, RDA Chairman Tariq Mahmood Murtaza asked the RCCI to identify locations for the construction of public toilets in important marketplaces. These facilities will be constructed on a public-private partnership basis. He also asked the trader’s community to provide a timetable regarding the commute of heavy-duty vehicles in the city in order to reduce traffic congestion.
