Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched a fully regulated Community Market in Islamabad to promote youth entrepreneurship and support local businesses, amid the rise of informal pop-up markets across the city.
The initiative provides a structured, transparent, and civic-compliant platform for students and small entrepreneurs, while ensuring municipal oversight and public-interest standards. The latest market took place on Sunday at Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park), in front of the Gandhara Citizen Club, featuring over 20 stalls run primarily by students, young entrepreneurs, and local artisans.
Stalls showcased handmade, organic, and homemade products, attracting hundreds of visitors and reflecting strong public interest in community-focused marketplaces. In line with the government’s vision of a digital, documented economy, the market operates on a cashless payment system, enabling vendors to facilitate digital transactions.
A CDA spokesperson said the Community Market is part of broader efforts to encourage community engagement while formalising small-scale entrepreneurship under a clear regulatory framework. Mass-produced and imported items are prohibited, and vendors are selected through a strict scrutiny process to ensure compliance with CDA rules.
Speaking to media, Director Municipal Administration Islamabad Dr Syeda AnamFatima said the initiative reflects CDA’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and well-regulated economic opportunities for youth.
“The CDA Community Market is an official, community-oriented initiative designed to empower young entrepreneurs while maintaining proper regulation, cleanliness, and public safety,” she said. “All applications are carefully reviewed, and stall allotment is made strictly on merit and eligibility criteria.”
Dr Fatima added that the market is fully run under CDA authority, with clear guidelines to prevent commercial exploitation or misrepresentation. Any collaboration with facilitation partners is limited to operational support.
Abdul Ghafoor Khan, Assistant Director, said all vendors must comply with municipal regulations, cleanliness standards, and safety protocols. Stall allotments may be cancelled in case of violations or false information. He added that the Community Market model is being replicated at other public spaces across Islamabad.
According to the schedule, F-6/3 Hill Park hosts the market every Friday from 2pm to 6:30pm, while Gol Market Park F-7/3 operates every Saturday from 11:30am to 4:30pm. Public feedback will guide further expansion, which has already received a positive response from residents across the capital.
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