ISLAMABAD: A joint team of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday visited two major business centres of the city to assess the needs of markets and address the traders’ issues.

It has been decided that ICCI and the CDA would establish a mediation committee to clear encroachments in business centres.

ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, along with CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed visited Blue Area and F-10 Markaz to assess the requirements of these markets and upgrade the basic infrastructures there.

It was the third joint visit of the ICCI president and the CDA chairman to see the on-ground situation of markets for early resolution of traders’ issues.

They have already visited Super Market, Jinnah Super, Rana Market, Farooqia Market, Melody Market and Aabpara Market.

Addressing the traders of Blue Area and F-10 Markaz, the CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed, said that CDA had already started the process of carpeting roads, repair of footpaths, restoration of streetlights, improving sewerage and sanitation systems.

“CDA was in the process of identifying plots in markets for construction of multi storey parking plazas,” Mr Ali said and assured that the civic body would continue to work with ICCI for addressing development issues of all major markets so that business activities could flourish in the federal capital.

The issues identified included carpeting of roads, repair of footpaths, covering manholes, restoration of streetlights, trimmings of trees, removal of encroachments and repair of broken fences etc. to beautify markets.

ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan stressed the need for reducing visual pollution in Islamabad that was a new issue, and called for beautification of structures and open spaces to tackle this growing problem.

The traders called upon the CDA for decision over the parking lots and suggested that it should be on build, operate and transfer basis, not only to generate revenue for CDA in the long run but to resolve parking issues in commercial centres.

He said ICCI in collaboration with presidents of trade associations of respective markets would form a mediation committee that would work with traders and CDA for removal of encroachments from markets.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2021