Important Meeting on Improving the Beautification and Infrastructure of Quetta: Key Decisions for Traffic and Urban Development

QUETTA:A significant meeting was held today under the chairmanship of **Commissioner Quetta Division, Hamza Shafqat**, in line with the directives of **Chief Minister of Balochistan** to discuss the **improvement and beautification** of **Quetta city**. The meeting was attended by key officials, including **Additional Commissioner Quetta Division, Agha Sami Ullah**, **Deputy Commissioner Quetta, Captain (Retd) Mehr Allah Badini**, **SSP Traffic Quetta, Behram Khan**, **Director Development Quetta Division**, and various other concerned department heads.

During the meeting, several crucial decisions were made to enhance the city’s infrastructure, beautification, and traffic management. It was decided that certain key areas of the city, including **Lyakat Bazaar**, **Kandahari Bazaar**, and **Prince Road**, would be declared **no-parking zones**. All vehicles and pushcarts in these areas will be **immediately removed**, with the cooperation of **district administration**, **Metropolitan Corporation**, and **Traffic Police**. Traffic cones will be placed, and staff will be deployed to ensure strict enforcement.

The meeting also decided that **Jinnah Road**, from **Mannan Chowk to Circular Road**, will be designated as a **pedestrian-only zone** from **6 PM to 10 PM** daily to ease traffic flow. Additionally, **Joint Road** will see all pushcarts removed to improve traffic circulation. To further beautify the city, **trees and greenery** will be planted in front of shops on key roads, with shop owners being tasked with their upkeep.

Further discussions led to the decision to declare the central business areas of the city as **Downtown** and impose a **ban on rickshaws** in these zones. **Electric vehicles** will also be introduced as part of the long-term planning. In addition to the no-parking zones, **fees will be levied** on vehicles parked along other key roads in the central city.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of **banning wall chalking** within the city. Strict action will be taken against violators, including **FIRs and arrests**. Assistant Commissioners were tasked with monitoring and removing wall chalking in their areas.

Another key decision was to designate **Alamo Chowk** as a **no-parking zone**, and to take action against violators in the area. The meeting also decided that shops built over **drainage pipes** on **Circular Road** should be **demolished** as soon as possible. Additionally, all **banners and posters** across the city will be **removed immediately**, and action will be taken against **beggars** in the city to improve cleanliness and order.

Regarding the **Abdul Sattar Road**, it was decided that the **shop boards** should be improved, and the relevant firms will be instructed to take immediate action.

As for the **Mutton Market**, the meeting confirmed that work on constructing a **plaza** will begin soon, with **excavation work** to start immediately and be completed within the set timeframe.

The meeting concluded with a focus on improving **city cleanliness** and increasing efforts against **encroachments**. The **Traffic Police** and **Metropolitan Corporation** will work together to ensure that adequate manpower is provided for **no-parking zone enforcement**. Additionally, it was decided that **staff members not cooperating** in this effort will face **salary deductions**.

**Commissioner Quetta Division, Hamza Shafqat**, in his concluding remarks, emphasized that achieving the desired improvements in Quetta city will require **tough decisions**. He assured that efforts would be made to tackle **traffic issues**, **encroachments**, and **cleanliness** problems, with all relevant departments collaborating to resolve the challenges.