With the Holy Month of Ramazan halfway through, a large number of people have started putting up encroachments in the main markets of the twin cities by setting up their stalls for the massive shopping sprees that are expected ahead of Eidul Fitr.
The situation is particularly gruesome in Raja Bazar, Moti Bazar, China Market, Saddar, Tanch Bhatta and Satellite Town markets where encroachers have totally occupied the footpaths and some portions of the roads, making it extremely difficult for the pedestrians to walk through for shopping.
The remaining part of the roads in some of these markets like Saddar and Satellite town are occupied by parking of vehicles and thus there is no space for vehicles to pass through.
What is surprising is that the raiding parties of TMAs in Rawalpindi who in the past occasionally paid visits to some areas to remove encroachments are totally invisible these days.
Shopkeepers say that they are making heavy payments to the TMA staff to do business ahead of Eid because these are the days when they make earnings almost equal to the business of a full year. What is astonishing is that the women making shopping are happy over the stalls as they say they get the items of their choice at cheaper rates.
Meanwhile, common citizens have asked the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners of the twin cities to take stock of the situation and at least ensure the clearance of footpaths and roads for pedestrians and vehicular traffic in Raja Bazar, Saddar and Satellite Town markets.
