According to Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the business community is facing significant challenges due to growing market encroachment. The CDA should take immediate action to address this significant issue.
He stated that before launching an operation against encroachments in any market, the CDA should consult with the relevant Trade Association to resolve the issue amicably. He suggested that the CDA create one market as a model for removing encroachments.
He added that trade associations from all markets are eager to work with the CDA on this campaign because it is in traders’ best interests. During his visit to the ICCI, he spoke with Shahjan Khan, Deputy Director General (Enforcement), CDA.
Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, former President, Shehzad Shabbir Abbasi, President F-6 Super Market, Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, General Secretary F-7 Jinnah Super, Abid Abbasi, President G-10 Markaz, Raja Imtiaz from G-9 Markaz, Aftab Gujjar President G-11 Markaz, Zahid Qureshi Secretary General I-8 Markaz, Ch. Irfan, President Steel Fabricators I-10 Market; Zafar Iqbal, President G-10/4; Khurram Khan, President, Islamabad Restaurants Association and representatives of other markets also emphasized the encroachment problem of their markets and guaranteed that they would cooperate with CDA in their removal.
Speaking at the event, Shahjahan Khan, Deputy Director General (Enforcement), CDA, stated that he would work with Trade Associations of concerned markets to remove the encroachments, as their removal would benefit traders and restore the federal capital’s beauty.
Khan further stated that the Capital City is Pakistan’s face, but rising encroachments are causing problems for the business community and affecting the city’s beauty.
Moreover, he added that the CDA has already surveyed many markets to identify violations because the civic body has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments. He also stated that representatives of Market Associations should share their contact information with the Enforcement Directorate so that they can be brought on board to address this significant issue in markets.
He stated that taking stakeholders on board would address three types of encroachments: pushcarts by outsiders in markets, violations by shopkeepers, and constructions.