ISLAMABAD: In a bid to regulate construction in the federal capital, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has forwarded a summary to the federal government seeking changes to regulations governing Zone III.

Sources in the interior ministry told Dawn that the summary has been received and it will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval after a review.

“Yes, we have received a summary of CDA related to zoning regulations. The fate of the summary will be decided this week,” said an official of the ministry.

The summary proposes two options to the cabinet: either approve the proposed changes made by a committee headed by CDA’s member planning or constitute a commission led by a judge and supported by a technical team.

This proposed commission would be required to complete the task within 15 days and its finding would be placed before the cabinet again for approval.

Says southern boundary of Zone III beyond Margalla Hills National Park not properly delineated

“The ICT Zoning Regulations and subsequent efforts failed to address the issue of un-regulated settlements in Zone III, particularly the areas north of Zone I,” read the text of the summary.

It added the southern boundary of Zone III beyond Margalla Hills National Park comprising acquired and un-acquired land was not properly delineated.

“Thus, the urban sprawl continued in the form of various settlements in Shah Allah Ditta, Sangjani, Jorikhas, Pandakurd and Chauntra etc. Also, the construction of Margalla Road from G.T. Road to D-12 may further exacerbate the situation in the form of haphazard ribbon development along the newly-constructed Margalla Avenue.

“All these contributing factors have further necessitated the authorities to act in unison to control the mushroom growth in Zone III,” the summary said.

Proposed changes

It said the CDA board also constituted a committee under the member planning to delineate the subzones and prepare a draft for zoning regulations.

The committee, after thorough deliberations, submitted detailed proposals along with a development strategy.

The committee also proposed that existing zones may be retained, and proposed to delineate the gray areas of Zone III, which did not constitute the Margalla Hills National Park and other defined zones.

The committee also proposed to complete the demarcation of boundaries of sub-zones through the Survey of Pakistan.

Last month, the CDA board decided to make changes to the zoning regulations for Zone III and formed the said committee. Sources said the committee proposed that those villages located on the hills on private land should be restricted and no further construction should be allowed in these areas.

It also proposed that these villages should be declared model villages. The committee also proposed the area falling between the national park and CDA sectors, starting from sectors F-6 to C-16, should be made part of Zone I while private land in the Bhara Kahu area’s left side while travelling towards Murree should be made part of Zone IV.

The CDA officials told Dawn that changes to zoning regulations were a need of the hour and these would provide “big relief to the public”, who have been facing construction issues on their own land in the absence of proper regulations.

A retired town planner appreciated the CDA’s move to regulate zones. He, however, added that new changes should discourage mega commercial ventures in this zone and changes should be made for public and small houses to mitigate damages to the environment.

It is relevant to note here that there were reports that a top bureaucrat had been pushing the CDA to make changes to zoning regulations, but the civic body denied these claims.

When contacted, CDA’s spokesperson Syed Asif Raza said last month, the CDA board had formed a committee to propose changes to the zoning regulations to resolve the protracted issue of Zone III.

Asked about the said summary, he said he was unaware of the summary, adding that the matter was being thoroughly discussed by the CDA to propose solutions.

The spokesperson said if the civic body would not regulate construction on private land, then the city would face further unauthorised construction,” he said.

Published in Dawn, january 2th, 2023