ISLAMABAD: The local traders in a meeting have called upon the Capital Development Authority to immediately suspend its operations in markets and take concerned market unions on board before taking any action against encroachments in markets. They also appealed to the Federal Minister for Interior Ch. Nisar Ali Khan to bring the so-called market committee under the control of Islamabad mayor and issue instructions for investigation against the heavy fines and illegal notices issued by the local administration against some traders.
Ajmal Baloch President Markazi Anjuman-e-Tijaran Pakistan, Khalid Chaudhry Secretary Traders Action Committee Islamabad, Yousaf Rajput President Traders Welfare Association Blue Area, Amad Bin Arif President Blue Area East, Shehzad Abbasi President Super Market, Rahman Siddiqui Secretary General Jinnah Super, Raja Zulfiqar Secretary General Karachi Company and representatives of various markets have called upon the CDA to urgently suspend its operations in markets. They said that the price list issued by the market committee carried prices that were even lower the auction prices of wholesale market and it was not viable for traders to implement the said price list.
They said vans carrying fruits and vegetables were deployed in markets while the heavy fines of up to Rs.30,000/- were being imposed on the fruits and vegetables sellers in markets which was totally unjustified. They said the notices for trade license have been issued to the local traders which were illegal as the traders have already obtained trade license from Director Municipal Administration of CDA. They said all market unions were against the encroachments, but the operation of CDA’s Enforcement Wing to demolish shops was not acceptable as it would cause huge business loss to the traders. They appealed to Mayor Islamabad and Chairman CDA Sheikh Anser Aziz to direct the CDA to suspend its operation forthwith and take concerned market union into confidence before taking any action against encroachments in markets.
