ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior has issued a notification extending the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance to approved housing societies and Islamabad Zone V.

The 2001 ordinance, which has only been implemented in urban areas so far, regulates relations between landlords and tenants. All tenancy-related cases and disputes are head by a rent controller.

However, the ministry has excluded Zone IV, despite the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) recommendations and the proliferation of commercial buildings in the area in the last decade.

The ministry had recently sought comments from the CDA in this regard, and the authority had recommended that the ordinance be extended to Zone IV as well. Zone IV consists of various populated areas, such as Shahzad Town, Sohan, Kirpa, Lehtrar Road, Khanna, Farash, Bhara Kahu, Kuri, Alipur Farash and Phulgran.

Notification did not extend ordinance to Zone IV despite CDA’s request

The notification, issued on March 15 and available with Dawn, reads: “Areas within urban limits of Islamabad Capital Territory in Zones, I, II & V. Housing schemes approved and demarcated as such by the Capital Development Authority in accordance with the Islamabad Capital Territory (Zoning Regulations) 1992.

“Area declared as urban areas by the Capital Development Authority with the approval of the Federal Government in accordance with the CDA ordinance 1960; to be the area to which the said Ordinance NO IV of 2001 shall extend, except : lands and buildings in the diplomatic enclave and such buildings, lands, offices and public properties owned or hired by the government.”

The summary, from the Islamabad Capital Territory administration and the interior ministry, on which the notification was issued said that the 2001 ordinance was not issued on justified grounds because it only dealt with urban areas, which discriminated against those living or doing business in rural areas.

The summary said the notification is only in force in zones I and II, and would now be implemented in Zone V and approved housing societies as well.

CDA spokesperson Malik Saleem said that the CDA had in its comments pleaded that this ordinance also be imposed in Zone IV.

“I have no knowledge of whether CDA’s point of view was considered or not; we will check it on Tuesday,” he added.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmed said he was not updated on whether the notification had been issued.

Speaking to Dawn, Anjuman-i-Tajran Pakistan and Traders Action Committee Islamabad president Ajmal Baloch alleged that the ordinance was anti-traders, because it was only meant to protect the rights of landlords.

“We have been struggling for an equitable rent control law that also protects the rights of tenants,” he said, adding that there should be a goodwill amount and fixed rent, which should be increased by 20pc every three years.

There should also be protection for tenants on the expiry of agreements, he said, while the ordinance gives landlords the right to have properties vacated by tenants.

“A government formed committee is currently working to accommodate our concerns, we are hopeful soon we will get justice, as recently we also took up this issue with the prime minister,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2018