ISLAMABAD (Special Correspondent) – The President of the Traders Welfare Association for I&T Centres G-9/1, G-11, and G-12, Mahboob Ahmed Khan, has formally urged the federal government to initiate a high-level inquiry into the alleged rampant illegal construction at I&T Centres and Class-III shopping areas. The call for a probe follows concerns that the city’s master plan is being systematically compromised by Building Control Directorate officials within the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Key Points

• Mahboob Ahmed Khan alleges that illegal shop construction in the rear sections of I&T Centres violates established planning regulations.
• The association claims that small-scale Class-III neighbourhood shops are being systematically removed to facilitate the development of large commercial plazas.
• Traders are demanding accountability for officials who continue to approve irregular building plans and issue illegal completion certificates.
• A grassroots movement has been announced to protect local traders’ livelihoods and preserve essential community services.

Violations of Islamabad Master Plan

According to Mahboob Ahmed Khan, these construction activities represent a clear departure from the original architectural intent of the capital. He asserted that the current trajectory of urban development threatens the availability of essential services for residents, including access to local grocers, barbers, and cobblers. He questioned how local citizens are expected to maintain access to daily necessities if traditional neighbourhood markets continue to be converted into high-density commercial zones.

Accountability and Policy Demands

The traders’ representative emphasized that responsibility for these planning deviations must extend beyond shopkeepers to include the regulatory authorities. He noted that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials responsible for construction oversight and certification must face professional consequences if their involvement in illicit approvals is proven. Mahboob Ahmed Khan has formally requested that Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi and the CDA Chairman launch an immediate, impartial investigation into the Building Control Directorate. The traders’ coalition remains committed to challenging any development that subverts the city’s master plan, framing the issue as a vital defense of Islamabad’s urban integrity and the economic security of the small business sector.