Rampant illegal commercial activities in residential areas creating nuisance for residents.

RAWALPINDI -- The illegal commercial activities are rampant in several residential areas of Cantonment Board and city areas thereby creating a lot of nuisance for the residents.

The residents of several Cantt areas have been left to suffer due to illegal commercial activities in residential areas and it looks that the authorities concerned are least interested to take action in accordance with the law against the rules violators.

The questions are also being raised as to why a number of roads were declared commercial by ignoring the parking arrangements and traffic-related issues. The illegal commercial activities in several residential areas of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) including Gawalmandi, Chor, Tench Bhatta, Chungi No 22 and several other areas irk the residents as the encroachers have occupied streets and roads, creating problems for the motorists as well as pedestrians particularly for women and children.

According to the residents, most of the streets of Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Dhoke Syedan, Bakra Mandi, Chungi No 22, Chor, Gawalmandi and other areas have been converted into commercial centers as the traders have changed houses into workshops, godowns and offices.

The residents also complained that influential persons with the connivance of the authorities concerned are constructing illegal buildings and shops in such localities further deteriorating the agonizing situation.

The residents, Mushtaq, Dilawar and Fawad while talking to reporter informed that encroachments in several residential areas particularly Tench Bhatta, Chungi No 22, Chor and Gawalmandi were on the rise as the authorities were unable to remove encroachment that were getting out of control. By violating the building bylaws, a number of commercial stores, restaurants and other units have been opened in residential area of Gawalmandi.

A resident said, "The roads were declared commercial by ignoring the safety of the residents and traffic-related issues."

Due to apathy and negligence of the authorities concerned, the residents are suffering and no action is taken...