ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: In a bid to facilitate residents of the federal capital for Eid shopping, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has relaxed its anti-encroachment drive, allowing vendors, stallholders and shopkeepers to display their goods outdoors.“We have been receiving requests from shopkeepers to allow them to display their items on stalls outside their shops. We have therefore taken a policy decision to allow them the facility temporarily,” CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal told this agency on Sunday.

He said as Eid was approaching, the number of shoppers has increased due to which they had to wait outside the shop because of the rush.He said the number of customers was also increasing at sweet shops, particularly those selling samosas and pakoras, and other items for iftar.

However, the CDA chief categorically clarified that no shopkeeper would be allowed to encroach on footpaths except those selling Ramazan and Eid-specific items.

He said soon after Eid, the authority would initiate a comprehensive drive to purge the city’s markets and residential areas of encroachment.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has already directed the civic body to remove all encroachments from the city’s roads and markets and clear footpaths occupied by various organisations and offices by placing barricades.

He said a cleanliness drive had already been initiated by the CDA to keep city’s roads and markets clean as it would not only make the shoppers feel comfortable but also increase business activity.

Farkhand Iqbal said the CDA would provide maximum manpower and infrastructure to strengthen the enforcement directorate. — APP