ISLAMABAD: Reconstruction of historic Covered Market is on the cards as Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday held a ‘public hearing’ on the revision of the building bylaws for the market.

Director General Building Control Khalid Asif conducted the public hearing attended by 17 people.

However, it is yet to be determined whether CDA will get its leased

market restored in original shape – single-storey inwards market, or it will allow the leaseholder to construct extra storeys.

Sources said during the hearing, majority of the participants opposed extra construction and pleaded that the market should be restored in its original shape.

Majority of participants oppose extra construction and call for restoration of market to original shape

They said it was CDA’s own constructed market and the same should be restored in its original shape.

However, a few of the participants showed some sort of flexibility for one extra floor provided the design was shown to them.

The sources said after hearing the participants, it was decided that a few designs will be prepared and shared with participants in another “public hearing.”

If a consensus is reached, the CDA will allow a basement for parking and a ground-plus one structure.

“Today, majority of participants pleaded that market should be restored in original shape, anyhow, it was decided that design for ground plus one will be shared with residents concerned, then CDA will take any decision,” said a source.

The market was designed by a British architect and the CDA got it constructed as a signature single-storey inward market before leasing it to Mr Siraj in 1966.

However, in a highly dubious and controversial move, CDA in 2007 made a post-lease change to its building and allowed the construction of a multi-storey market.

The inquiry of that alleged scam is still pending in the CDA.

Meanwhile, the leaseholder without wasting time demolished the historical single-storey market, wiping out the traces of one of the prominent landmarks of the federal capital.

However, residents of the area opposed the CDA move and took the matter to Supreme Court.

After being snubbed by the apex court, which directed the CDA to restrain from making changes to the bylaws, the civic agency backtracked.

Since then, the plot has been lying vacant, depriving the citizens of the market facility for daily routine items.

The market was located along the single narrow service road namely Begum Sarfraz Iqbal Road, which leads toward the Prime Minister Secretariat from Melody side.

Last year, the matter was presented before the CDA board, but in a surprising move, the board was not informed that the market was CDA’s property and was constructed by itself as a single inward market before leasing it out to Mr Siraj.

Rather the board, through a summary, was told that CDA had allotted the plot for the market and pleaded for reconstruction of a market with multi storeys.

However, the board did not agree and decided that it can’t move forward without getting input from the public.

The board directed the planning wing to seek opinion from the residents.

Subsequently, in October last year, CDA sought public opinion. But the process was not moved forward.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2026