ICCI asks CDA to regularise non-conforming businesses

Urges civic authority to speed up development works

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) president urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday to consider regularising all non-conforming businesses in the federal capital to promote trade and business activities as this will create opportunities for people to earn their livelihood.

President ICCI Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan led a delegation to meet CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed at CDA Headquarters. During the meeting, they discussed measures for uplifting the Capital and the de-sealing of shops sealed due to non-conforming use.

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said many of the affected businesses were operating in the federal capital for years without hindrance but in the last few months the CDA authorities had started to seal shops in some areas due to non-conforming use, and this action was disrupting business activities.

He said the CDA had also issued notices to some industries for non-conforming use while many of these industries were promoting exports and providing jobs to thousands of workers. He emphasised that instead of taking direct action in markets and industrial areas, CDA should take ICCI on board so that amicable solutions to such issues could be found.

The ICCI president urged the CDA to consider regularising such business instead of issuing show-cause notices or sealing shops. He said due to the pandemic, our economy was facing great problems and the situation demanded that every institution including CDA should facilitate businesses instead of resorting to measures that cause further contraction in business activities.

Convener ICCI CDA Committee Abdul Rauf Alam and other members of the delegation said CDA had started development works in markets and industrial areas, which was appreciated by the business community. However, its pace was very slow. They asked the CDA to speed up the pace of all development works.

CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed appreciated the suggestions given by the ICCI president and his delegation and said that they would be given due consideration.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2021.