ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Tuesday approved changes to Zone IV, allowing private housing schemes and apartment buildings in its sub-zone A.

The CDA board, which met with Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed in the chair, approved the changes to the zoning regulations. Sources said now the matter will be referred to the federal cabinet for final approval.

The sources said the CDA board allowed private housing schemes and apartment building projects in the sub-zone.

Private housing was not allowed in this zone where only government schemes could be launched.

However, a major chunk of the land in the zone is privately owned and people were suffering because of the bar on housing projects there.

Decision taken by civic agency’s board will be sent to federal cabinet for approval

The sources said after approval of the cabinet, people will be allowed to construct apartments and launch housing schemes in the sub-zone like zones B and C.

The board also approved another summary for revenue generation, allowing 15 rest area sites having filling stations and convenience stores on the right of way of Kashmir Highway and Islamabad Expressway.

The sources said 10 sites had been approved for Islamabad Expressway and five for Kashmir Highway.

The board decided that disposal of these sites will be conducted in a transparent manner for short-term monthly lease payable in advance annually for initial 10 years extendable to five years only.

The board also discussed proposed changes to the CDA ordinance 1960. The sources said the board recommended a change to the ordinance for allowing the civic agency to carry out joint ventures with private parties.

However, legislation from parliament is required for this.

The CDA board makes recommendations for changes to the ordinance and the federal government through an amendment bill will have to pass the changes from parliament.

In the past too, efforts were made to make changes to the ordinance but the governments could not get them passed from parliament.

“Yes, today we recommended changes to the ordinance,” said a CDA board member. He confirmed that the board had recommended a clause for joint ventures.

“The other changes are related to administrative matters,” he said. Talking about changes to the sub-zone A of Zone IV, he said these changes were meant to discourage unauthorised construction.

“How strange is this, neither we are acquiring land from people of the sub-zone A nor allowing them to carry out construction on their own land.

As a result, people have been carrying out construction without getting any approval,” he said, adding after approval from the cabinet the CDA will have complete regulatory check on sub-zone A.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2020