CDA likely to revise its industrial by-laws

Civic body’s chairman assures businessmen of expediting lease renewal process

ISLAMABAD: The top civic body in the federal capital on Thursday assured the businessmen of the city of expediting work on revamping the lease renewal process apart from revising industrial by-laws and building key projects.

This was stated by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) Chief Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed in a meeting with members of the business community of the capital at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Thursday.

During the meeting, key issue such as lease renewal process was discussed.

Ahmed said that the system was complicated and was, in fact, costing the civic body millions of rupees in fees apart from creating problems for industrialists and commercial plot holders.

However, he assured that efforts were afoot to expedite this process to facilitate the business community.

The CDA chairman further said that they were in the process of revising industrial by-laws apart from devising a mechanism for change of trade was being developed so that industrialists could change their trade after paying a certain fee.

Admitting that CDA’s current systems were not user-friendly, he assured businessmen that efforts are being made to resolve all highlighted issues apart from overhauling CDA’s systems and improving them.

He urged the business community to be patient, noting that the CDA was in the process of being completely restructured and that the public would see a positive change in the working of the civic body within weeks.

Ahmed further said that development work in the Kahuta Industrial Triangle is expected to begin soon.

The CDA chairman claimed that societies located along the Islamabad Expressway between Gulberg and Rawat were using civic agency’s right of way and they would have to pay for it.

He added that the issue of expanding the expressway will be resolved in cooperation with societies along the route.

Moreover, he said that over-ground parking will be developed in the Blue Area. But in the meantime, the ICCI and the Blue Area Association should work with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) deputy commissioner and the Islamabad Traffic Police to determine a temporary solution for parking in the area.

In this regards, he said that the parking facility will be provided in Sector F-8, F-10 and other markets of the federal capital.

He reported that CDA has started long-overdue development work in Sector E-12, and Sector I-15 and other sectors which have been lying untouched for many years. This, he hoped, will greatly improve the revenues of the civic body.

The CDA chief further pointed out that Prime Minister Imran Khan has encouraged vertical constructions in the federal capital, while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has removed restrictions on high-rises in certain parts of the city.

This, he said, will also resolve the issue of building additional storeys for traders.

Further, he said that five pedestrian bridges were being built in the federal capital to facilitate the public.

ICCI President Ahmed Hassan Moughal urged CDA to focus on the development of industrial areas and markets on modern lines to facilitate the business community for achieving their desired goals.

He further said lease renewals of industrial and commercial plots have been suspended for many years due to which businessmen were unable to expand their businesses.

Moughal stressed that CDA should address this issue urgently apart from reducing the high rates for construction of additional storeys in markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2019.