A large number of kiosk owners, in blatant violation of rules and regulations set by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), encroached upon state land in different sectors of Islamabad.
The allottees encroached upon land beyond the approved 10X10 size of kiosks by setting up additional shops, sheds and huts. The owner of a kiosk situated close to the I-9 Police Station, grabbed CDA land by setting up sheds, huts and car parking to enhance his business. The small kiosk had turned into a big restaurant where a large number of customers could be seen buying cooked food.
The owner had also erected huts for families and placed ‘charpais’ for their customers, besides setting up a big car parking lot on state owned land. Another kiosk allottee in I-10 Markaz had also encroached upon some parts of a nearby park. Some restaurant owners had even set up stalls on busy footpaths and open spaces, creating problems for pedestrians. A person who had been allotted a kiosk in the greenbelt between Sabzi Mandi and I-10/1 Sector had also set up a tyre shop and a hotel on state owned land. The owner of a tea stall in the greenbelt near the gas pump had also encroached upon government land. When contacted, a CDA official said that a high level committee had already been set up by the chairman in order to purge the federal capital of encroachments.
He said that notices had been issued to 500 kiosks allottees for violating rules. A ban had also been imposed on the allotment of kiosks.
