The Metropolitan Corporation Faisalabad (MCF) Faisalabad Takes First Step in Regulating Street Vending After 30 Years, implementing the long-delayed recommendations from the 1992 Master Plan and the 1997 Traffic Management Plan, officially recognizing designated zones for street vendors. This initiative, which marks the first concrete step toward regulating mobile street vending, has been highlighted in various development plans but never acted upon until now.
Anwar Moeenuddin, a former town planner at the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), explained that the 1992 Master Plan, developed under then-Commissioner Tasneem Noorani, proposed creating exclusive street vendor zones and street bazaars to improve traffic flow and support low-income vendors. However, the plan was never executed due to a lack of funding and administrative interest, despite traffic surveys at the time revealing over 700 cart vendors across the city.
MC Faisalabad Chief Officer Murtaza Malik confirmed that the Municipal Corporation has issued notices to cart vendors, instructing them to submit their old carts in exchange for newly designed model carts, free of charge. These new carts will only be allowed in government-designated areas. Vendors found operating on main roads after December 15 will face confiscation of their carts.
To ensure all vendors are informed, awareness banners have been placed across major city routes. In the first phase, 220 model carts will be distributed to registered vendors on five key roads: Satyana Road, Sheikhupura Road, Jaranwala Road, Sargodha Road, and Jhang Road, with distribution set to be completed by January 2026. The plan will eventually expand to other roads and link streets across the city.
Vendors must complete the mandatory registration process by submitting copies of their CNICs and an affidavit. This initiative is being praised as an overdue yet crucial step toward balancing economic inclusion with improved traffic management in Faisalabad.