ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has decided to conduct a survey of open spaces in markets to check their misuse as, an official said, every second shopkeeper or business centre was using an open space for commercial purpose.

The Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) through a letter has asked the concerned assistant director to get the survey completed within 15 days.

“It has been observed that every second shopkeeper or business venue is using open space for seating/parking purpose while as per record very few permissions are available. So you are directed to complete the survey with details of location of open spaces, the use of open spaces, permission granted by DMA or otherwise and status of dues in both cases whether used with permission or without permission,” read the letter.

The DMA allots open spaces to shopkeepers against about Rs450 per square yard annual rent. Sources said open spaces were well defined and as per planning standards these were meant for beautification, not for commercial use.

However, the DMA, on the basis of a decision of the CDA board (as earlier DMA was part of the CDA), has been allotting open spaces to shopkeepers.

The sources said hardly less than 200 shopkeepers had been paying rent to the DMA for the open spaces while the rest were using them free of cost.

“The idea to allot open spaces was not bad. In Europe and other developed countries, you will find out seating places outside restaurants and shops. But here, people are misusing this facility and in many markets they have encroached upon footpaths and verandas,” said an official of the MCI.

“Just because of the failure of the DMA, in many markets shops and kitchens of hotels have been set up in verandas which are meant for public walk,” the official said and added that the DMA office was located in G-7 and Khadda Market and Sitara Market in the sector were full of encroachments and many shops had been built in streets and verandas. Similarly, the condition of other markets is not different, he said.

“So to restore the beauty of Islamabad, the DMA should get all open spaces (allotted or un-allotted) vacated from encroachers,” he said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in January this year started a probe into encroachments in various markets of Islamabad.

The FIA’s corporate crime circle, through two letters, to the MCI had sought details of restaurants and cafes which were allegedly using state land.

“Reportedly, several restaurants/cafes/plazas in F-7, F-8, F-10 and F-11 Markaz are using government land specified for green planters in their front by making paved concrete sit-out platforms with fixed and permanent structures like tiles, Astroturf, benches, canopies, light poles, fountains and fences for private use,” read one of the letters dated January 15.

It sought details about six eateries, asking the DMA to share with the agency any permission granted to the restaurants for using green planters. Through another letter dated Jan 24, the FIA directed the DMA to submit additional information as well.

“Is there any mechanism to check whether all restaurants are occupying that portion of land which is allowed to them or they have increased encroachments?”

In almost all markets, encroachments have been made on state land. In G-9 Markaz, F-10 Markaz, Aabpara Market, Jinnah Super Market, Super Market and Sitara Market, street vendors and shopkeepers have set up their businesses on footpaths and verandas as well.

Even in G-7 Markaz (Khadda Market) and a market near the fire brigade building and Zero Point, motor mechanics have reduced the width of the roads. As a result, motorists have to face difficulty in crossing these markets but the DMA and the enforcement directorate have failed to clear the roads.

An official said in small markets, there were originally 10 shops in each centre, which have now expanded to 80-plus, as their owners have divided one shop into eight mini-shops. The official said the expansion of shops was one of the major reasons for the shrinking space at least in class-three (small) shopping centres.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022