ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board has now decided to make bylaws for regulating construction of commercial buildings astride major roads in zones IV and V when several high-rises have already sprung up in the area.

Zone IV comprises Islamabad Park and the rural periphery wedged between Murree Road towards the north and Lehtrar Road towards the south. It covers Bhara Kahu, Bani Gala, Mohara Noor, Jadiot, Tamar Sihala and other areas.

Zone V areas fall south of Islamabad Park and extend to the outer limits of Islamabad, covering Kahuta Road, Rawat, G.T. Road, Gogot Syedan, Pind Malkan and other areas.

A significant number of commercial buildings have been constructed alongside Islamabad Highway and Murree Road, particularly in Bhara Kahu. The authority has never directed the owners of said buildings to seek approval from the CDA. Sources said the majority of building owners have severely violated layout plans and other bylaws, which are in place in urban areas.

They said that, as per the bylaws, the owners of commercial buildings are to construct parking areas in basements and leave a certain amount of open space. However, many have constructed their buildings according to their own wishes.

In a board meeting chaired by chairperson Maroof Afzal, the CDA discussed bylaws for the construction of commercial apartments, buildings, marriage halls and apartment schemes astride major roads in the two zones.

“The board meeting discussed the issue in detail and decided to take input from the ICT administration before finalising the summary, which will be sent to the Cabinet Division for formal approval,” the CDA spokesperson, Ramzan Sajid, said.

Mr Sajid said the aforementioned zones did not fall within the purview of CDA as its ICT that manages the zones, which is why its input is required. However, the Islamabad deputy commissioner retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmed told Dawn that ICT had never had any mandate to regulate or pass building bylaws.

“I don’t know whether the CDA is responsible or not, but the ICT has nothing to do with the layout and regulation of commercial buildings anywhere in Islamabad,” Mr Ahmed said. He added that ICT did not even have a department dedicated to looking into building-related affairs.

“We have the local government department, which looks after civic development, such as streets and small roads in rural areas,” he added.

Sources in the CDA also said that ICT has nothing to do with passing building layout plans. They said the CDA alone was responsible for regulating and approving building layout plans in Islamabad.

Some CDA officials also claimed that building regulation bylaws were already in place in Islamabad zones IV and V.

“I don’t know why the CDA board discussed the formation of bylaws for the construction of commercial buildings in Zone IV and Zone V. The laws already exist,” a senior CDA official said. He said in 2007, the CDA board approved bylaws for Zone V and in 2010 the board approved Zoning regulations for Zone IV.

“It seems that the planning directorate, in order to give cover to those commercial buildings established in violation of the rules in said zones…, is trying to give the impression that there are no zoning regulations in place,” the official said.

However, the CDA spokesperson insisted that zoning regulations were still pending in the two zones. “After the approval of bylaws and regulations, we will monitor the construction of buildings in the zones in question and will also provide services,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2015

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