ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has said it has no objection to the privatisation of Jinnah Convention Centre (JCC) but is waiting for study reports which are to be submitted by the Ministry of Privatisation before getting a revised allotment letter.

On the other hand, the Privatisation Commission stated that the transaction of JCC was put on hold after the CDA changed its stance.

The JCC is located at one end of the Constitution Avenue and is used as a venue for exhibitions and summits by private and public sector organisations.

Says waiting for study reports from Ministry of Privatisation

Through a letter, CDA’s Member Estate Naveed Illahi last week told the Ministry of Interior that the civic agency never opposed the privatisation of JCC rather it had asked the Ministry of Privatisation to provide study reports regarding availability of water, electricity from a grid, a solid waste management plan, traffic impact study and report on sewage treatment plant (STP).

“In case, no study was conducted in this regard, the matter may kindly be brought into the notice of the Prime Minister or Federal Cabinet as deemed suitable for appropriate intervention in the matter,” read the letter.

“It is submitted that CDA Board has no objections to revision of master plan of the area [JCC] but had requested that before issuing a revised allotment letter, Ministry of Privatisation may share the following information which should have been developed by the consultants prior to proposing changes in the land use and master plan of the area.”

It added that a report on the availability of water, solid waste management plan, electricity and power supply from grid, traffic impact and sewage treatment plant (STP) are required by the Ministry of Privatisation before issuing the revised allotment letter.

The CDA member issued the letter in response to a letter from the Prime Minister Office dated Oct 21, 2021.

The letter said: “CDA has not objected to the privatisation of JCC. CDA Board has merely advised on the mode of transfer of properties being implemented in Islamabad.”

It said it had been suggested that the 3.4 acres originally allocated for parking may be reconsidered as amenity area in order to avoid any legal complications.

“The CDA has the specific mandate to conduct auctions of commercial plots and come across such issues on a daily basis. The said experience was shared with DG privatisation who attended the board meeting on 26-07-2021,” the letter said, adding the CDA Board had proposed that these observations may be placed for the consideration of the federal cabinet before finalisation of the transaction of JCC.

“It is submitted that CDA has not stopped the revision of allotment letter as the decision of federal cabinet being final and directory for the CDA as well as Privatisation Commission,” the letter said.

It said the CDA had autonomous board with four private members, and two of them were leading architects of international fame namely Nayyer Ali Dada and Ali Asghar.

“Their guidance in the said matter, it is presumed, shall benefit Privatisation Commission also. However, it is reiterated that decision of the federal cabinet is final in this matter,” the letter said, and pointed out that the board had decided that before issuing a revised allotment letter the Ministry of Privatisation should be asked to share reports with the civic agency on the five issues.

“The same has not been provided so far and instead the above referred letter has been received. A revised allotment letter will be issued on receipt of the above information,” the CDA’s letter said and added that the CDA Board cannot amend the plan on its own without receipt of the mentioned information as this would not only impact the potential price of the site but will also have implications for the overall planning of the city.

“We have no issue on privatisation of JCC as we have already given NOC in this regard, but we are waiting for reports on five subjects,” said an officer of the CDA planning wing.

Last month, the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation was informed that the transaction of JCC had been put on hold after the CDA “changed its stance regarding the facility.”

The committee was told that the CDA objected to JCC’s sale on the plea that it could not be converted from amenity to commercial as per the regulations. The objection from the CDA came at a time when the Privatisation Commission (PC) was close to completing the JCC’s transaction.

The Senate body asked the standing committee on interior to deliberate on the issue since the CDA comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2021