lSLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to develop a comprehensive policy for managing street vendors in the capital.
During the hearing on a contempt of court petition against the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and MCI, officials from MCI’s Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) informed the court that street vendors have not been targeted in recent years and that a formal policy is currently being prepared.
MCI representatives said they proposed allotting a plot for a weekly market, but the court noted that vendors rely on daily income and a weekly market would be insufficient.
Advocate Imaan Mazari, representing the petitioners, highlighted that licenses are not being issued to vendors and that MCI holds the responsibility to formulate the vendor policy. She also estimated there are about 20,000 to 21,000 street vendors in Islamabad.
A court-appointed assistant reported that some vendors submitted responses confirming no issues of harassment or extortion. The court’s directive aims to regulate and protect the interests of street vendors while ensuring orderly urban management.
