President of the Super Market Traders Association and noted business leader, Shehzad Abbasi, has expressed grave concern over the continued negligence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), warning that the declining state of Islamabad’s prominent commercial centres is damaging both the city’s reputation and its economy.
Abbasi said that the Super Market, once considered a symbol of Islamabad’s organized layout and a favorite destination for diplomats and foreign visitors, is now sinking into chaos and decay. What was once a clean and orderly space has now become overrun with filth, unregulated encroachments, and complete administrative failure. He said the situation reflects a larger pattern of indifference on the part of CDA towards the city’s key commercial zones.
He noted that the sanitation system in the market has collapsed entirely. Garbage remains uncollected, littering walkways and public areas. The foul stench is so pervasive that customers are often forced to cut their visits short. Most of the manhole covers are missing, posing a serious safety hazard to both pedestrians and vehicles. In many places, open manholes have already caused accidents. Meanwhile, gutters and drains remain choked, resulting in continuous overflow of sewage water across streets and footpaths, turning what should be a shopping destination into a health hazard.
Abbasi highlighted that illegal structures and makeshift stalls have mushroomed across public spaces, especially on footpaths and state-owned land. These encroachments not only create visual pollution but also hinder pedestrian flow and vehicle access, adding to traffic congestion and overall discomfort for shoppers. Furthermore, he stated that several residential units in the area are being used for commercial purposes without proper authorization, thereby violating the law. He lamented that despite all of this happening in plain sight, CDA has failed to take any enforcement action.
He said this level of urban mismanagement directly undermines Islamabad’s image as a planned and disciplined capital city. Foreign diplomats, officials, and other international visitors frequently shop in the Super Market, but the current state of the area reflects poorly on national governance and urban upkeep. Abbasi warned that if this continues, Islamabad’s already fragile commercial climate will suffer further decline.
He called for urgent measures, including a comprehensive overhaul of sanitation, the immediate replacement of missing manhole covers, the cleaning of drains, and regular garbage disposal. He also demanded the resolution of parking shortages that routinely create bottlenecks and inconvenience both customers and shopkeepers. A targeted operation should also be launched against illegal stalls and encroachments, with firm timelines and visible results.
Abbasi stated that the CDA has been repeatedly informed about these issues through official correspondence and in-person meetings, but there has been no response. He described the authority’s silence and inaction as criminal negligence. He warned that traders will be left with no choice but to launch protests if meaningful action is not taken soon. Government claims of turning Islamabad into a model city will never be realized unless the systematic neglect of its commercial zones is urgently addressed.
