Daily Times

The residents of Rawalpindi have voiced concerns against encroachments in the city as, according to them, cantonment boards and Rawalpindi Development Authority have failed to carry out an effective operation against encroachers. The encroachments and street venders selling goods alongside the busiest roads and footpaths cause blockade and people face traffic congestion and disruption especially during the peak hours. Goat vendors are found selling goats on a footpath located in Chungi No 22 area in total violation of the orders of the Supreme Court. The residents of the area claim that cantonment board employees inform the goat dealers about impending raid by the anti-encroachment team in the area and they remove their goats from the footpath. The citizens complained that the Rawalpindi Development Authority and both the cantonment boards have failed to take action against land mafias despite clear instructions by the superior courts and the Punjab government.

Published in Daily Times, November 13^th 2018.