In a long-anticipated move aimed at easing public frustration, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has abolished parking charges at 32 locations under its jurisdiction, starting July 1. The decision is part of a broader policy announced earlier this year by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who had vowed to eliminate fees at nearly half of KMC’s parking sites during the 2024–25 fiscal year.
According to an official KMC notification, the revised policy removes parking charges from roads in several KMC-managed areas. These include 20 sites in District East, seven spread across Korangi and Malir, three in District South, and two in Keamari. Additionally, 10 parking spots located within boundary walls in District Central and District South have also been exempted from the charged parking system.
Despite this rollback, the city’s overall charged parking landscape remains largely unchanged. Fees will still be collected in all 25 towns of Karachi, six cantonment areas, and other zones governed by separate administrative authorities.
Interestingly, KMC’s parking revenue target for the new financial year remains the same as last year — Rs105 million — even though fees have been scrapped at nearly a third of the corporation’s sites. That figure was confirmed in the recently approved budget, raising eyebrows among observers.
On the other hand, revenue expectations from wedding halls and banquet parking have been doubled — from Rs5 million last fiscal year to Rs10 million for 2024–25 — indicating a shift in revenue strategy.
Most charged parking remains concentrated in Saddar Town, Karachi’s bustling commercial hub, where the highest volume of daily vehicle movement is recorded. Saddar Town’s Director of Charged Parking, Basheer Memon, clarified that the KMC’s decision has no bearing on roads managed by local town administrations or cantonment boards. “KMC has ended charges only at the sites under its own direct control. Town and cantonment areas will continue with their existing systems,” he said.
While the partial abolition of parking fees has been welcomed by many commuters, it has also raised questions about implementation consistency, revenue projections, and transparency — especially as Karachi’s parking ecosystem remains divided among multiple overlapping authorities.
For now, motorists in specific KMC zones will enjoy relief, but for much of Karachi, the battle over paid parking continues.
