RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has turned a blind eye to increasing commercial activities in the residential areas of Khayaban-iSir Syed, creating a mess for the residents of the area.

According to Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2025, commercial activities are not allowed in the residential areas.

But in many areas of the garrison city, the activities go unchecked due to the civic body`s negligence. During a visit to Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, one can find the commercial outlets and motor workshops operating in residential areas.

Sector 1 and sector 2 Khayaban-i-Sir Syed are the worst example of thecommercial activities where godowns have been established but the com-plaints of the local residents with RMC fall on deaf ears.`You can find beauty parlours, clinics, health fitness club, godowns inevery street of the residential area but sector-I and 2 virtually con-verted into a mini-market,` said Mohammad Sallahuddin, a resident of sector-I.

He said trucks parked in the area had virtually stopped the women from strolling in the evening and the morning.

He said the presence of unwanted people has made it difficult for women to walk in peaceful environment. Saleem Butt, a resident of sector-2, said that the traffic jam from morning to evening due to the commercial activities was a routine.

He said that it was difficult for the people to live in quiet and calm environment and students to pay attention to their studies in the afternoon as well as in the night due to constant noise from workshops.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation ChiefMunicipal Officer Ali Imran said the commercial activities were not allowed in the residential areas.

However, he said that if someone opened a beauty parlour, health club, boutique or school in his bungalow it was the duty of the excise department to take action as it did not fall in the limits of the civic body.

`We will take action against illegal plazas and construction and in this regard,` he said.

He said the civic body would soon launch action against the illegal commercial activities in the city areas to minimise the problems of the residents in the area.

He said that there should be a better policy for the urban areas and to restrict unplanned commercial activities as it was creating problems for the people.