Photo from Daily Time

Motorists in Pakistan have complained that forklift contractors are helping the government take money from the public, after cars and No Parking signs were removed by government-contracted forklift operators.

According to Pakistan's Daily Time, forklift contractors had been contracted to 18 city sectors to remove No Parking signs and trap unsuspecting motorists. Operators were then allegedly authorised to remove cars that had been illegally parked, forcing owners to pay for their return.

Daily Time said the operation had been assisted by Lahore police.

A student told Daily Time he had parked his car outside a railway station after getting permission from a police officer. However, when he returned to his car, it was being lifted by a forklift and the same police officer was sitting beside the forklift operator. The student had to pay Rs200 (USD4.55) to retrieve his car.

One forklift contractor told Daily Time he was "authorised by the traffic police to lift illegally parked cars". He said people often "hurled abuse at him and threatened him".

A government officer told Daily Time private forklift contractors would be advised not to use the word "fine", as only courts could impose fines.

The parking fine matter will be heard before a court on February 23.