Business Outcry in Rawalpindi: Traders Rally Against New Cantonment Board Policies

Rawalpindi's traders protest against the Cantonment Board's decision to convert Bank Road to pedestrian-only and a new tiered parking fee. They argue these changes harm local businesses. Merchants threaten shop closures, while the board defends the measures as necessary for an area development project.

The business community in Rawalpindi is up in arms over the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board's (RCB) decision to transform Bank Road into a pedestrian-only zone. The protest, headlined by Anjuman-e-Tajran, also targets a newly imposed tiered parking fee at Potohar Parking-1, according to a report by Dawn.

Merchants express discontent as the new parking policy charges PKR 50 for the first hour and PKR 100 for each subsequent hour. These developments coincide with a PKR 830 million underground cabling and beautification project in the area's bustling Saddar Commercial zone.

A spokesperson for the traders lamented the absence of consultation with the project's steering committee, describing the changes as detrimental to local commerce. In response, association leaders, led by General Secretary Zafar Qadri, have hinted at escalating the protest and plan a press conference to discuss their grievances.

RCB Assistant Secretary Rashid Saqib defended the measures, assuring that any adjustments to the pedestrian proposal for Bank Road would undergo thorough review. Despite these assurances, the merchants' unrest underscores a growing commercial tension in Rawalpindi.

(With inputs from agencies.)