ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday gave a final deadline of April 20 for the removal of illegal showrooms in the city.

“In case of non-compliance, the lease of the property will be cancelled. If the illegal showrooms are not removed within the given deadline, the property will be sealed. Apart from this, heavy fines will also be imposed on those who are operating showrooms illegally in the city,” said a statement issued by the CDA.

It said during a recent survey carried out by the CDA, it was revealed that illegal showrooms were being operated in many properties.

“These showrooms not only affect other business activities but also disturb the pedestrian movement and traffic flow. Similarly, due to these showrooms, people coming to business centres also face parking problems,” it said.

Last month, in order to keep residential areas clean from unbridled commercial activities, the CDA had come up with an incentives-based policy for setting up of some specific business ventures on major roads.

The civic agency had formulated the new policy for encouraging private businesses such as showrooms, automobile workshops, hospitals, hostels and nurseries and schools on nine major roads instead of in residential areas.

Under the new policy, the CDA, as an incentive, will not charge the landowners any fee for setting up businesses such as conversion fee rather they will be asked to pay a nominal annual licence fee.

An official of the CDA said the civic agency had decided to first take action against car showrooms and automobile workshops operating in markets, adding the authority was also proposing policies to resolve the issue of private schools operating in residential areas.

“Islamabad used to be known as a beautiful city, but gradually it has been facing many issues, including encroachment on sate land,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2023