ISLAMABAD: A decision by the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to set up a cattle market in Sector I-12 – a residential sector – has caused a stir among the plot owners, who are apprehensive about this proposal which could throw a spanner in the already-sluggish development work.

It is worth mentioning that the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad announced an open auction for six cattle markets across the city, including the proposed site in Sector I-12. The newspaper advertisement sparked apprehension among the allottees waiting for possession of their plots for a long time. The development work underway for over two years includes the construction of streets and a sewage system.

People who have bought plots in this sector are already frustrated with the CDA, particularly the slow pace of development work in this sector. Tahir Mahmood, who purchased a plot in this sector almost a decade ago, is also worried about the “harmful impacts” of the proposed market. He said the establishment of a market could cause “infrastructure damage” which would need “expensive repairs” afterwards.

“With tractors, bulldozers, and other heavy machinery involved in land balancing, roads construction, and installation of sewage system, we worry that the establishment of a cattle market will disrupt these efforts, leading to further delays in possession of our plots,” he said, speaking on the behalf on allottees. “I bought a residential plot in the sector to build a home for my family. However, my dream remains unfulfilled due to the slow-paced development work in this sector,” he added.

Plot owners say market will damage infrastructure, delay possession

Fahad Hameed echoed similar concerns. He said there was a “critical need” for uninterrupted development in this sector to avoid further delays in the possession.

“We have already faced significant setbacks due to a protracted development process,” he said, adding that allottees still “hold onto the hope that the work will eventually be completed, allowing us to realise our dream of building homes for our families”.

Khumar Gul also expressed regarding the proposed cattle market. He said the potential damage to the “finished development work” could compromise the existing infrastructure. He warned if their grievances remained unaddressed they would stage a demonstration to voice their opposition.

Additional Commissioner Rana Waqas Anwar, who is also the MCI administrator, claimed that the development work would not be affected because of the proposed market. He said that it would be ensured that the cattle market would be established in open areas, such as grounds. He said the CDA sanitation team would clean the sector after Eid. MCI Administrator Rana Waqas Anwar told Dawn that the proposed cattle market was a move to facilitate the residents ahead of Eid.

“In the past, people used to establish small markets in all the sectors so it has been decided to establish six cattle markets and it will be ensured that no animal would be sold out of markets. We have finalised the arrangements for the sanitation team to clean the sector [after Eid],” he said.

Replying to a question, Rana Waqas said that the cattle market would be established in open places, such as grounds so that there would be no damage to the property or the ongoing development work.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2024