Vendors continue to carry out their business activities on footpaths in the federal capital causing problems for the pedestrians and motorists. Various markets, including Aabpara, Faizabad, Melody, Blue Area, Karachi Company and other parts of the city are rife with encroachments. The growing encroachments have not only marred the beauty of the city, but also damaged the roads, causing problems for pedestrians and commuters alike.
In a sight becoming increasingly common sight in almost all the markets of the city, shopkeepers encroach on the pavements in front of their shops while vendors set up stalls on roads, forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the roads, besides disrupting traffic flow. A customer at the Peshawar More market said it had become almost impossible to walk freely in the market because of the encroachments.
When contacted, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) Enforcement Department official said the authority launched anti-encroachment campaign drives to keep the roads and footpaths clear. He added that the CDA had also warned the shopkeepers and vendors that strict action would be taken against the encroachers.
