MARDAN
Majority of the city bazaars are becoming hubs of encroachments. The encroachers have occupied all the city bazaars allegedly in connivance with concerned officials which contribute to traffic mess and inconvenience to pedestrians, according to a survey conducted by Lead Pakistan. The residents walking pass the areas also face lots of difficulty, because of stalls and push carts that are placed on footpaths.
Encroachment mafia has virtually occupied Bank road, Shahidanoo bazaar, New bus adda road, Charsadda chowk, Par Hoti chowk, Chato chowk, Malakand chowk, Muqam chowk, Mir Afzal Khan bazaar, Sarfaraz Gunj bazaar, Khwaja Gunj bazaar and other bazaars and chowk of the city.
The encroachers have established illegal setups alongside roads and by placing their showcases on footpath bearing items for sale which is troublesome for the customers visiting the market.
Mohammad Idress, a visitor, alleged that the TMA Mardan encroachment department officials have been receiving monthlies. He added that footpaths are given on rent either by owners or shopkeepers.
Farid Khan, another visitor added that the encroachments are on the rise because the encroachers have their backs covered by influential persons and authorities concerned.
Encroachers have established illegal structures in front of district headquarter hospital and Mardan medical complex.
A visitor said that illegal tea stalls owners are selling unhygienic products including, juices, mineral water, tea and bread and looting out -door patients and visitors by selling commodities at high price as compared to market rates in front of DHQ and MMC hospital.
Mohammad Shoaib Khan, a visitor, said that no rate list has been displayed by any stallholder in sheer defiance of rules.
The masses appealed to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to take stern action against the encroachment mafia in Mardan district because the district administration has become a silent spectator.
