Zoning violations: Traders want businesses out of residential areas

Local traders have urged CDA as it was affecting their bottom line.

Local traders have urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to take immediate measures to ban all sorts of commercial activities in residential areas as it was affecting their bottom line.

G-9 Markaz Traders’ Welfare Association President Ikhlaq Abbasi said that hundreds of houses were being used as guest houses, schools, beauty parlors, clinics, massage centres, gyms and furniture shops, which was negatively impacting business activities in commercial centres. “If this trend is not curbed immediately, the majority of residential houses will turn into commercial centres,” he said.

He alleged that CDA’s building control section officers and inspectors were being paid off on a daily basis to allow houses to be used for commercial activities.

“The CDA inspector for Sector F-6 is on the top of the heap as he has allowed hundreds of showrooms and other commercial activities in residential areas on Nazimuddin Road and other areas,” he said.

“Such activities in residential areas are not only hurting business in commercial centers, but also disturbing residents and becoming a source of concern for them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.