Dozens of pushcart vendors met Punjab Assembly member Syed Ejaz Hussain Bukhari in Attock to seek protection of their livelihoods following a recent anti-encroachment operation by the district administration. The vendors requested government support and the allocation of alternative locations where they could continue operating their businesses.

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MPA calls for alternative locations Vendors raise concerns over operation Call for balanced enforcement

During the meeting, the MPA urged the district administration to provide designated spaces for the affected vendors, saying urban development initiatives should be balanced with the need to protect the livelihoods of small traders and daily wage earners.

MPA calls for alternative locations

Syed Ejaz Hussain Bukhari said city beautification and anti-encroachment measures should continue, but they should not leave hardworking citizens without a means of earning a living.

He said that if vendors are required to vacate their current locations, the administration should ensure they are relocated to suitable sites where they can legally continue their businesses.

The MPA also assured the vendors that he would pursue all constitutional and legal avenues to safeguard their livelihoods and, if required, would support them through legal proceedings.

Vendors raise concerns over operation

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, several vendors alleged that authorities confiscated not only their pushcarts but also the goods they were selling during the operation. They further claimed that criminal cases had been registered against some vendors.

According to the vendors, previous anti-encroachment campaigns did not have the same impact on their livelihoods. They said they rely on daily earnings to support their families and appealed to the authorities to allocate legal vending spaces.

Call for balanced enforcement

Syed Ejaz Hussain Bukhari said small traders and labourers are an important part of the local economy and should be given the opportunity to earn an honest living while complying with the law.

He reiterated his commitment to supporting the affected vendors and called on the district administration to adopt a balanced approach that combines urban management with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

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