ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday finally approved regulations for wedding halls and marquees, at a meeting of the CDA board

There are 70 unauthorised wedding halls and marquees currently operating in the capital. Several illegal halls are operating in E-11, Bhara Kahu and Banigala, and along Kashmir Highway, G.T. Road, Murree Road, the Expressway, Lehtrar Road and Park Road.

At Monday’s board meeting, which was chaired by the authority’s new chairman Usman Akhtar Bajwa, participants approved parameters to establish wedding and event halls and marquees.

The board decided that wedding halls must be spread over at least 2,000 sq yards with 50pc covered ground. They will be allowed two storeys and must have one parking space for each 250 sq ft of gross covered area.

Board approves re-planning in Chattha Bakhtawar to accommodate nursing university

Sources said 2,000 sq yards was also fixed for marquees, which must also have one parking space for every 250 sq ft of covered area.

According to the regulations, wedding hall and marquee operators are bound by the fire and safety regulations included in Pakistan’s building code. Structural designers must be prepared and vetted by licensed professional engineers in accordance with the applicable building code.

CDA Member Planning and Design Asad Mehboob Kayani said the operators of 70 existing facilities will be given six months to seek CDA approval, after which the authority would begin an operation to seal all unauthorised buildings.

“New construction will be allowed in light of these regulations,” he added.

The Supreme Court recently took up the matter of unauthorised wedding halls and marquees, and at its last hearing censured the CDA for having not devised any rules and regulations in this regard.

Sources said the board also approved a summary from Member Estate Khushal Khan for an upcoming auction of around 50 commercial plots in Blue Area, F-10, G-11, H-11, I-8 and other areas.

King Hammad Nursing University

The CDA board on Monday also approved the re-planning and layout plan for 419 kanals in the CDA’s Down Town scheme in Mouza Chatha Bakhtawar.

Sources said that the regional planning director told the meeting that the board had approved the establishment of the King Hammad University of Nursing and Medical Sciences in Zone IV in 2016, on 237 kanals of land in Chatha Bakhtawar.

However, a number of structures were disrupting the approved site on Park Road, which was south of the Down Town scheme. The director told the board that the entire acquired area earmarked for the university was under adverse possession.

He added that the Down Town scheme had fewer structures and acquiring possession of the land would therefore be relatively easier in that area.

The site of the university has been adjusted on the planned and approved Down Town site, and the foundation stone for the university was laid by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in January 2017.

The director and member planning sought the board’s approval to re-plan the area, and the board approved the summary with some changes.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018