Traders demand parking plaza in Aabpara Market

News Desk

Islamabad: Islamabad’s trader community has demanded the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the construction of a parking plaza in Aabpara Market in order to address parking issues and traffic jam.

It is to mention here that traffic jam in Aabpara Market has become a routine matter and the construction of a parking plaza would help maintain traffic flow to facilitate commuters.

It is to mention here that Aabpara Market is the oldest market in Islamabad, which is playing an important role in improving the economy by promoting trade activities.

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, during a meeting with a trader delegation on Saturday, urged the development authority to construct a parking plaza in Aabpara Market in order to address parking issues, besides maintaining traffic flow to facilitate the commuters.

Bakhtawari said that foreign diplomats and many other dignitaries often visit Aabpara Market for shopping following its importance, further urging the development authority to construct a monument at Aabpara Chowk in order to enhance beauty to bring the market at par with international standards.

The President said that the ICCI would work with CDA, FBR, ICT administration, police and other relevant departments of the government to resolve the issues of the business community.

He said this while talking to a delegation of Aabpara Market which called on him led by All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran President Ajmal Baloch.

ICCI Senior Vice President Faad Waheed assured the delegation that ICCI would work with the CDA to address the key issues of the traders and for the development of Aabpara Market on modern lines.

Speaking at the occasion, Ajmal Baloch said that parking was a major issue of the traders of the area and stressed that ICCI should work with CDA for the construction of a parking plaza in the Market.

Baloch said that Aabpara Market should be provided easy access from 7th Avenue. Many traders are facing tax issues due to their integration with Tier-1 and Tier-2 tax system and urged ICCI to cooperate in resolving tax issues of the traders.

As per recent statistics released by the office of the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, some 2000 to 3000 vehicles are registered every month, which means a load of vehicular traffic is going to increase manifold in the coming years in Islamabad.
As many as 1.3 million vehicles have so far been registered in Islamabad which has an estimated population of 2.6 million, indicating an unprecedented burden of vehicular traffic on roads and highways in the capital city. As a result, Islamabad which is considered the beautiful and green capital of the world is losing its charm due to increasing traffic and the emission of carbon has been adversely affecting its natural environment.

The statistics showed that the civic agency and the capital administration is currently focusing on some key projects to resolve the issue of increasing traffic such as Islamabad Expressway, IJP Road, Margalla Avenue, Sector G-6, Sector G-7 Interchange, Rawal Dam Underpass and Orange Bus Service. Availability