| ISLAMABAD: Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on Tuesday cancelled all temporary permissions granted to businessmen for using open spaces in various markets.
According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), all permissions granted by municipal body have been cancelled.
“In order to control encroachment in markets, marakaz and commercial centres within the municipal limit of Islamabad, the Municipal Corporation Islamabad administrator has decided to withdraw/cancel all types of temporary permissions for outdoor seating arrangements, placement of generators, deep freezers, chillers, erecting shed, car parking purposes, cemented block, etc., issued by DMA,
MCI with immediate effect. In this regard, public notice has also been published in national newspaper.”
The notification said that Director General Enforcement CDA is requested to conduct operation against encroachments throughout the city.
The notification of MCI received mixed response as speaking to Dawn some officials termed it a great effort to get the public spaces cleared.
“There should be no such permission and operations should be conducted across the board. Open spaces are meant for public and not supposed to be used for commercial purposes,” said an official, who supported the said notification, adding that now, it is the responsibility of the enforcement directorate to get all markets cleared. On the other hand, those who opposed the said notification said that DMA used to get millions of rupees fee against the said permissions.
“I think, open spaces will remain in use of businessmen and because of this notification, we will face financial loss,” an official said, adding that if a mega operation is conducted across the board to clear all markets and commercial areas
cleared, then this notification will be of some benefit, he said.
Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2023 |
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