People demand completion of anti-encroachment drive

Say they are enjoying mobility in markets, parking space in commercial areas


APP November 06, 2018
Say they are enjoying mobility in markets, parking space in commercial areas. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Monday appreciating the government's vigorous campaign against encroachment said it must continue till its logical conclusion to purge the violators once forever and reemergence must be monitored.

The Korang Nullah, Kashmir Highway, Bani Gala, Faizabad, Sector G-12 and F-7 in Islamabad were major areas where Capital Development Authority took action against encroachers.

Meanwhile Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) carried operation in Peopels Colony, Bakra Mandi and Saddar.

Capital Development Authority has removed kiosks, pushcarts and shops and razed houses and plazas built without the concerned department's approval.

A woman Naheed Aslam encouraging the move said it has helped remove all those vendors selling unhygienic foods outside the schools and the parents feel their children were safe now.

"After consuming these substandard edibles sold at these pushcarts children were prone to catch diseases and now they come home with their lunch boxes finished, the healthy food being prepared by the caring hands of mothers,” she added.

The step was a sigh of relief for people having parking issues and free movement as they have to park their vehicles in chaos because vegetable and fruit vendors had occupied the areas mostly around their offices and working places. They said the issue had been raised in previous regimes but no attention was paid to this chronic problem and public concern.

Anti-encroachment drive begins in two days in Karachi

The shopkeepers said due to encroachments their business was being affected as majority of customers avoids visiting markets for not enjoying free mobility and availability of parking near to their target areas for shopping and buy edibles. The shopkeepers expressed satisfaction for widened roads after operation helping their business flourish.

The students, who used institutions' buses for pick and drop, said earlier their buses remained stuck for hours in narrow lanes but now they reach schools in time and back home as well.

Director Enforcement Capital Development Authority Fahim Badshah said they were continuously monitoring the encroachers and persistently launching anti-encroachment drive to ensure the encroachers don't resurface. "We impose fines and register cases against encroachers and take action against corrupt officials as well,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2018.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ