Evicting businesses from residential areas will likely result in a shortage of office space, with rents soaring
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to the ongoing efforts of the government to evict businesses from residential areas of Islamabad. This move may look good on paper but there are ignored and perhaps, unforeseen consequences that must be considered. According to a report, around 90 per cent of businesses in Islamabad exist in residential areas since commercial office space is either in short supply or is expensive. Additionally, there is a dearth of parking spaces in commercial areas. This means evicting businesses from residential areas and forcing them to operate only in commercial areas will likely result in a shortage of office space. This is already happening and rents are soaring. How many of the small businesses that were already paying Rs100,000-200,000 a month in rent can afford to pay Rs800,000-1,000,000 a month? It is likely that many small businesses will close down, leading to unemployment. In the long term, this will mean the exodus of businesses from Islamabad. Furthermore, this will also create a shortage of parking space. It is already nearly impossible to find parking space in existing commercial areas such as the Blue Area, F-7 or F-6, during the daytime. Where will eight-to nine-fold more cars go? We have no parking structures to accommodate them.
If the government wants to pursue this policy, then it must do so properly. This means relaxation of restrictions on the height of commercial buildings so that more businesses can be accommodated — a basic concept of urban planning. Second, it must enforce the rules of enclosed parking for office and residential high-rise buildings. Third, it must reduce the demand for private cars by connecting the various parts of the city with quality public transport. Finally, the government should only enforce the current eviction laws on businesses with higher client visits, such as car showrooms, and allow the quieter offices with low-client volumes to continue in their residential area offices, a practice that is generally followed worldwide.
Dr Adnan Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2016.
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