ISLAMABAD: The reconstruction of the historical Covered Market is on the cards as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to hold a final hearing on the objections and comments regarding the building bylaws and planning parameters for the construction of the market.
A notification dated September 10 issued by the CDA stated: ‘Hearing regarding revision of building bylaws and planning parameters of Siraj Covered Market, G-6/3-4, Islamabad is scheduled to be held on 22-09-2026 in the office of Director General Building and Housing Control.
It was addressed to 19 citizens, mostlyliving in G-6/3. The district vice president of the PPP, who according to the notice also lives in the sector, has also been invited to attend the select group.
The notice stated that this would be the last and final hearing.
In June this year, the building control’s DG Khalid Asif had conducted a hearing on the matter, which was attendedby17people.
Sources said that a majority of the participants had opposed extra construction and pleaded that the market should be restored to its original shape. They said it was CDA’s own constructed market and the same should be restored in its original shape.
However, a few of the participants showed some sort of flexibility for one extra floor provided the design was shown to them.
The sources said after hearing the participants, it was decided that a few designs will be prepared and shared with participants in another public hearing.
The sources said that if a consensus is reached, the CDA will allow a basementfor parking and a ground-plus one structure.
The market was designed by a British architect and the CDA got it constructed as a signature single-storey inward market before leasing it to Mr Siraj in 1966.
However, in a highly dubious and controversial move, CDA in 2007 made a post-lease change to its building and allowed the construction of a multi-storey market. The inquiry into that alleged scam is still pending with the CDA.
Meanwhile, in 2007, the leaseholder without wasting time demolished the historical market, wiping out the traces of one of the prominent landmarks of the federal capital.
But residents of the area opposed the CDA move of allowing more storeys and took the matter to Supreme Court.
After being snubbed by the apex court,whichdirectedthe CDAtorestrain from making changes to the bylaws, the civic agency backtracked.
Since then the plot has been lying vacant, depriving the citizens of the market facility for daily routine items.The market was located along the single narrow service road namely Begum Sarfraz Iqbal Road, which leads toward the Prime Minister Secretariat from Melody side.
Last year, the matter was presented before the CDA board, but in a surprising move, in a summary, the board was not informed that the market was CDA’s property and was constructed by itself as a single inward market before leasing it out to Mr Siraj.
Rather, the board, through a summary, was told that the CDA had allotted the plot for the market and pleaded for reconstruction of a market with multi storeys.
However, the board did not agree and decided that it can’t move forward without getting input from the public.
The board directed the planning wing to seek opinion from the residents.
Subsequently, in October last year, the CDA sought public opinion. But the process did not move forward.
‘Hopefully, after this last public hearing, the matter will be decided,’ said an officer of the CDA.