Islamabad: President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, has strongly urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to allocate adequate funds and immediately begin long-overdue development work in Islamabad’s commercial markets.
Expressing concern over the deteriorating condition of these markets, President Qureshi said that several basic infrastructure issues have been neglected for far too long. He cited non-functional streetlights, broken footpaths, the absence of clean drinking water, lack of public toilets, choked sewerage lines, and poor sanitation as serious concerns affecting both traders and visitors. He emphasized that such conditions do not reflect the image expected of Pakistan’s federal capital.
Addressing various trader delegations at the Chamber House on Monday, the ICCI president reaffirmed his commitment to resolving issues faced by the business community. He highlighted that the Chamber is actively working to push for business-friendly policies and improved infrastructure, aiming to transform Islamabad into a model city for investment and ease of doing business.
President Qureshi pointed out that traders and industrialists are major contributors to CDA’s revenue through various taxes. “The business community is a key stakeholder in Islamabad’s economy. It is the CDA’s responsibility to invest in the development of commercial areas to ensure the smooth growth of trade and commercial activity,” he said.
He also reminded authorities that the business community had extended full cooperation to the CDA during anti-encroachment operations. “Now it is the civic body’s turn to reciprocate by upgrading markets and restoring their functionality and dignity,” he added. Calling for swift and visible action, the ICCI president urged the CDA chairman to prioritize infrastructure improvements and restore commercial markets to a standard befitting the capital city.
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