IHC directs MCI to develop policy for street vendors

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to draft a comprehensive policy regarding street vendors.

The MCI Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) director informed the IHC that street vendors in the federal capital have not been targeted in recent years and that a formal policy is now being developed to regulate them.

MCI officials told the court that they had proposed allocating a plot for vendors to set up a weekly market, but the suggestion was not accepted. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan remarked that the vendors rely on daily earnings, and a weekly setup would not suffice.

The hearing was held on a contempt of court petition filed against the CDA and MCI regarding actions against street vendors.

Advocate Imaan Mazari appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while officials from DMA and MCI were also present.

Advocate Mazari argued that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is also a party in the case, but it is MCI's responsibility to formulate the vendor policy.

She added that authorities are not issuing licenses to street vendors.

The court inquired about the current number of street vendors in Islamabad.

Advocate Mazari responded that there are approximately 20,000 to 21,000 vendors in the city.

A court-appointed assistant noted that 16 vendors had submitted responses stating they faced no extortion or harassment, nor any issues from shopkeepers.