Karachi administration has decided to introduce a registration system for roadside hotels using QR codes and affidavits as part of measures to regulate businesses operating along roads and public spaces. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, where officials discussed measures to address roadside encroachments, keep footpaths accessible and improve monitoring of commercial activities. Under the proposed system, roadside hotel owners will be required to complete registration through QR codes and submit affidavits confirming compliance with the applicable requirements. Authorities will use the commissioner’s portal to identify roadside hotels that have not completed the registration process, with unregistered establishments potentially facing sealing action.
The registration initiative forms part of a wider administrative campaign targeting commercial activities that occupy footpaths and other public areas. Officials have directed municipal bodies and relevant departments to take action against pushcarts and illegal encroachments that restrict pedestrian movement. Roadside hotels and tea establishments have also remained a focus of the administration’s regulatory efforts, following earlier enforcement operations across Karachi. The latest approach adds a digital registration component to the process, allowing authorities to maintain information about roadside establishments through a centralized system and identify businesses that have not complied with registration requirements. The use of QR codes could also provide officials with a more accessible method of verifying whether an establishment has completed the required formalities during monitoring and enforcement activities.
The decision follows previous measures introduced by Karachi administration to regulate roadside hotels and tea houses. In November 2025, the administration issued standard operating procedures for establishments operating along roads and footpaths after a major crackdown in which 255 roadside hotels and tea houses were sealed. The SOPs divided roads into categories and introduced restrictions on the amount of space that hotels and tea shops could occupy. Establishments that met the requirements could be de-sealed after their owners submitted affidavits agreeing to follow the rules, while violations could result in further action and re-sealing. Earlier in January 2026, officials also reported that owners of sealed shops and roadside hotels could submit affidavits at the relevant Deputy Commissioner’s office as part of the process for reopening compliant businesses.
The latest QR code registration system indicates that Karachi administration is moving toward more structured monitoring of roadside commercial establishments while continuing its campaign against encroachments. Alongside registration, officials have discussed action against overcharging, with the administration reporting enforcement measures against businesses involved in violations. Recent decisions also call for continued coordination among municipal bodies and other relevant departments to keep footpaths available for pedestrians and address unauthorized commercial activity. The administration has not yet disclosed a complete implementation timeline for the QR code registration system, the exact registration procedure, or the technical specifications of the commissioner’s portal. Further details are expected as the system is implemented and roadside hotels are brought into the registration process.
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