ISLAMABAD  – Encroachments in the major markets of the capital including Aabpara, Melody Krachi Company and Pesahwer More are persist as no effective meaures has been taken to curb the trend.
These markets are the oldest and busiest business centers in the city, but they are turning ugly with immense difficulties for shoppers and traders due to growing encroachments, poor sewerage, and lack of parking facilities.
Talking to this agency, a number of visitors criticised the authority for not taking action against the shopkeepers who had encroached upon the corridors and footpaths and added that civic authority has turned a blind eye to the plight of these markets.
Encroachers have occupied the footpath and road outside in the said markets by setting up illegal stalls of electronics, fruit chaat, and spurious beverages which are causing inconvenience to them while the shopping, said a visitor Ammar Shah. 
“Shopkeepers allow encroachers to occupy space in front of their shops, as they get money in return,” he added.
Sleem Akther, another shopper, complained about bad sanitary conditions of the markets where sewage keeps on gushing out of drains. “Each time I visit the market, I have to face a similar situation where pounds of stinky water obstruct the movement of visitors,” he said.
Car parking is another major problem being confronted by visitors, who have to wait for hours to get a space to park their vehicles, said a motorist, Mateen Haider. It takes a lot of time to roam around and find a place for parking, he added.
Citizens have asked the Capital Deevelopment Authority (CDA) to remove encroachments, and build parking areas around the markets of Capital. The CDA officials were not available for comment despite repeated calls.
Meanwhile, Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) under a special campaign has removed wall-chalking, banners and posters from the city streets and main roads of the Rawal Town. According to details, on the special directives of Administrator Rawal Town Saif Anwar Jappa, Municipal Administration had started the campaign to remove wall chalking from main city areas.
Special teams under the supervision of Town Officer regulation Tauseef Malik and Superintendent Pervaiz Mughal were given the task that have removed wall-chalking, banners and posters from all areas.
Special squads constituted in this regard removed wall-chalking mainly from Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree road), Saidpur Road, Satellite Town, Commercial Market, Khabian-e-Sir-Syed, Jamia Masjid Road, Liaquat Road, Iqbal Road, Jinnah Road, Gunjmandi, Dhoke Ratta, Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Khaba, Muslum Town, Sadiqabad and several other areas of the town.
Administrator Rawal Town urged the citizens to cooperate with the Municipal Administration staff to make the city neat and clean so that the residents could be provided a healthy and beautiful environment.
The practice of wall chalking should be avoided as it gives an ugly look to the city streets, said a statement and warned that now cases would also be registered against the violators of wall-chalking ban.
Meanwhile, the administrator also issued directives to carry out special raids to remove encroachments from different city areas.