Encroachment on Quetta’s Footpaths Creates Hurdles for Pedestrians Amid ‘No Parking’ Enforcement

Quetta:Despite the Balochistan government’s decision to declare key roads in Quetta as **‘No Parking Zones’**, **encroachments on footpaths** by shopkeepers and vendors have caused severe inconvenience for pedestrians, especially **women, children, and elderly citizens**.

Initially, under the supervision of the **Commissioner of Quetta Division**, **Jinnah Road up to Manan Chowk** was declared a no-parking area, followed by similar restrictions on **Kandhari Bazaar, Liaquat Bazaar, Prince Road, and the extended stretch of Jinnah Road**. The move was part of a broader initiative by **Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti** aimed at controlling traffic congestion in the provincial capital.

However, in response to the parking ban, shopkeepers have reportedly **occupied footpaths** along these roads by parking their **motorcycles** and placing **pushcarts (rehris)**, restricting pedestrian movement and defeating the very purpose of the policy.

Encroachments have also been reported on **Adalat Road** and around the **Metropolitan Corporation building**, where vendors have taken over sidewalks, leaving no space for people to walk safely.

Public frustration is mounting, as **pedestrian pathways have become impassable**, forcing people to walk on already congested roads, risking accidents and injuries. The public has made a **strong appeal to government authorities**, including **Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan**, **Commissioner Quetta Hamza Shafqaat**, **Deputy Commissioner Capt. (R) Mehrullah Badini**, and **SSP Traffic**, to take **immediate action**.

Citizens are urging officials to **remove motorcycles and carts from footpaths** and **launch a crackdown against encroachers** to restore pedestrian access and improve overall urban mobility in Quetta.