Authorities unearth massive irregularities in allotment of stalls, ‘change of trade’ in weekly bazaars

ISLAMABAD – The authorities have unearthed massive irregularities in allotment of stalls and ‘change of trade’ in Islamabad’s weekly bazaars committed by the officials of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) over the years, The Nation has learnt reliably.

A probe has been ordered into the allotment of stalls, violation of layout plan and ‘change of trade’ in the weekly bazaars by the officials of the DMA. A four-member probe committee has been constituted with Syed Muhammad Kashif Director EDM, MCI nominated as member and three other MCI officers as co-opt members. The first meeting of the committee was held in the office of DDG Admin/HR, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad last week to probe the nature of irregularities, according to the officials.     

The officials who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity said that hundreds of new stalls were allotted in three weekly bazaars such as H-9, I-9 and G-10 Sunday bazaar. 

Over 100 new stalls were created in G-10 weekly bazaar, the fee was received but no one was physically handed over the stall and allowed to run the business, according to the initial findings of the committee. As far as other weekly bazaars are concerned, a large number of stall-holders in the H-9 Peshawar Morr Bazaar, the largest and the most prominent of the several weekly bazaars in the city, were allowed ‘change of trade’ and over 400 opted ‘Landa’ (old clothes) section of the bazaar instead of the already allowed trade of vegetable and fruit section, etc. with no record available with the officials. Similarly, over 200 new stalls were created in the I-9 weekly bazaar with the then UC chairman directly pushing the DMA officials for the same, according to the officials. They said the majority of these irregularities took place during the tenure of Local Government in Islamabad from 2017-2020. 

“There was no monitoring of the affairs and the concerned officials took full advantage of the lack of supervision by the high-ups at the DMA,” according to the officials.

As far as H-9 bazaar is concerned, there was a clear nexus between the Traders Association and the DMA high-ups that led to irregularities. However, there was direct involvement of the then Union Council Chairman in the affairs of DMA when it came to irregularities pertaining to the I-9 weekly bazaar. The officials said that as soon as the probe committee finalises its findings, the authorities are likely to cancel the ‘change of trade’ allowed in the H-9 weekly bazaar at a massive level.

The H-9 Peshawar Morr Bazaar is held three days a week — Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. It is frequently visited by thousands of people, including a large number of foreigners. Standard at the bazaar is declining and the availability of green groceries at higher than the official rates is hardly checked. 

The most serious issue faced by the customers is to find a parking space and they have to walk long distances even up to a kilometre over the uneven ground, whereas, stallholders and the officials park their vehicles along the main boundary walls.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/27-Sep-2021/authorities-unearth-massive-irregularities-in-allotment-of-stalls-change-of-trade-in-weekly-bazaars