Traders oppose plan to revive Food Street

PESHAWAR: Office-bearers of Anjuman-e-Tajiran of Chowk Fawwara, in Peshawar Cantt, have expressed concerns over reports of a possible revival of the Food Street in the area, warning of legal action and protests if their demands are not addressed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, President Javed Khan and other trader leaders said that in 2018, when the Food Street project was first introduced, a four-member delegation of local traders met the Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO) and highlighted the negative impact it would have on their businesses.

They said the CEO had assured them that all food cart vendors would operate within prescribed limits and that the Food Street would be shut down if complaints persisted.“Despite the promises, vendors began violating the conditions, and repeated complaints and negotiations failed to resolve the issues,” said the trader leader.

The trader said they wrote a formal letter to the Director General of the Cantonment Board Rawalpindi, Major General Irfan Ahmed Malik, who ordered removal of all stalls and cabins in April 2025 which the traders termed a “great relief” for both businesses and residents.

However, the traders noted that although the Food Street had ended, roadblocks remained in place, legal parking spaces were eliminated, and illegal food carts continued to occupy the area.

He added that reports of plans to revive the Food Street were again causing unrest among local traders.The trader leaders warned that the business community will launch a protest and pursue legal action if the Peshawar Cantonment Board fails to reopen all blocked roads, remove obstacles, eliminate illegal carts, and halts any plans to restart the Food Street.