ISLAMABAD: The Director General Planning, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Mohammad Arshad Chohan, along with Deputy Director Industrial Planning, Dr. Beenish Javaid, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to hold an interactive session with ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry, former presidents, executive members, and representatives from various trade and industrial sectors. The purpose of the visit was to gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by the business community and explore ways to resolve them for ensuring smooth business operations in the region.
Acknowledging the pivotal role of the business community in the development of Islamabad, recognized globally as a well-planned and climate-resilient city, DG Planning revealed that CDA mulls to up gradate the infrastructure in the Kahuta Triangle Industrial Area, transforming it into a state-of-the-art industrial estate. He said that the CDA would reclaim encroached land in the vicinity, develop industrial plots, market them, and finance the project on the cross-subsidized basis.
He further informed that CDA would encourage initiatives under Public-Private Partnership and promote vertical development in future projects. A modern bus terminal will soon be established in Sector I-11 for the convenience of the citizens and the business community. He urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the liberal trade policy and regularize their businesses.
He emphasized that industrial development is crucial for national economic growth and proposed the formation of a joint committee comprising CDA and ICCI officials to ensure close coordination and effective implementation of agreed initiatives.
Addressing other concerns, he said that CDA and ICCI would work jointly to resolve issues related to double basements, parking plazas, and the regularization of Sector H-13, adding that the authority has decided to regularize constructions in that area. Regarding the fruit and vegetable market, he suggested forming a dedicated committee to address the long-pending issues.
Earlier, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, in his welcome address, highlighted key issues of the industrial sector. He called for nominal Floor Area Ratio (FAR) charges and permission for constructing multi-story buildings to meet modern requirements. He stressed that CDA should differentiate between industrial and commercial sectors while framing policies and fee structures. He also urged for immediate upgradation of the dilapidated infrastructure in the Kahuta Triangle Industrial Area.
Chairman ICCI Founder Group, Tariq Sadiq, noted that despite the CDA Chairman’s earlier directives, several issues remain unresolved. He also emphasized double basement permissions and reduction in trade change fees.
Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub highlighted the challenges faced by the fruit and vegetable market, particularly the need for auction platforms, and called for a rational revision of the fee structure to encourage business expansion. Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry urged CDA to allow double-story construction in the Steel and Auto Markets of I-10/3.
Former Presidents Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi and Mian Akram Farid, along with Executive Members Faisal Muzammal, Zulqurnain Abbasi, Imran Minhas, Ishaq Sial, Sanaullah Khan, Mohammad Kalimullah, and Aftab Gujjar, also shared sector-specific concerns.
The meeting concluded with a consensus that CDA and ICCI would work in close coordination to transform Islamabad’s industrial areas into vibrant and investor-friendly business hubs, creating vast employment opportunities and boosting economic growth.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
