Islamabad - Displaying wares on footpaths and roads have become a routine matter in most of commercial markets of federal capital causing inconvenience to not only pedestrians but also to road users.
This unchecked illegal practice mars beauty of the federal capital while buyers have to face great difficulties during their visits of these markets for shopping. In Aabpara and Karachi Company (G-9 Markaz), the shopkeepers and vendors in violation of all rules, encroach commercial areas by putting various sale items for sale.
Bashir Ahmed, a pedestrian, told APP that several link footpaths and roads encroached by shopkeepers do not have space for pedestrians and motorists and create traffic problems. If a place is not filled with goods, the shopkeepers use that place for parking of two-wheelers or four-wheelers, he added.
Munir Akhtar, who live in a nearby market said, it takes him 30 minutes to walk from one corner to the other of the market because of display of different goods by the shopkeepers.
With respect to land grabbing, he commented that the condition was worst in residential sectors where most of the encroachers were highly influential due to which the authorities were reluctant to take action against them. He said although, the CDA’s directorate of enforcement had been trying hard to clear the capital of the menace of encroachment, it has achieved little success.
Usually, CDA staffers are able to, at best, displace encroachers such as fruit vendors and stall holders who return after a while.
A CDA official admitted ground reality that it is impossible to remove the illegal encroachments from the capital as whenever we remove or bulldoze them from an area, the encroachers again return and occupy that space.
Meanwhile with the mercury level raising every day, sale of ice has registered increase owing to its growing demand in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
People belonging to low-income groups and slum dwellers purchase ice from markets to fight the sizzling heat.
At present, the price of ice is Rs 60 to 80 per kilogram, which is likely to further swell in the months of June and July when summer season touches its peak.
Talking to APP, Amjad Ali, a resident of G-7 said that he purchase ice from market for his family, as electric cooler cannot fulfil demand.
Shahida Ali, a college student informed that she buys ice, as there was no refrigerator at her home. “In Winter, it is easy to manage without a refrigerator but in summer, one needs cold water for which we need ice,” she added.
Some jobless persons involve in ice-selling business in summer to earn bread and butter for their family.
According to a vendor, ice is a one of best selling item in the summer and he is able to earn a good amount to run kitchen of his family.