ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the CDA on Monday assured the business community that a new industrial estate would be established in the near future in the federal capital in collaboration with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

The CDA chief, Amir Ali Ahmed, was talking to a delegation from the ICCI led by its President Mohammad Shakeel Munir.

Mr Ahmed said the dualisation of Islamabad Dry Port Road would be inaugurated on Friday next.

The delegation visited the CDA head office to discuss issues faced by the business community.

ICCI should come up with comprehensive proposal for new project, civic authority chairman says

CDA Member Finance Rana Shakeel Asghar, Member Engineering Syed Munawar Shah and Member State Naveed Ellahi were also present.

Mr Ahmed said the demand of the ICCI for setting up a new industrial estate in Islamabad was quite legitimate.

He said the ICCI should prepare a comprehensive proposal for the new industrial estate and send it to the CDA so that the project could be taken forward in consultation with the concerned departments of the government.

It was agreed in the meeting that the ICCI would hold another meeting with the CDA chairman on November 15 with the proposal.

The CDA chairman acknowledged that Kahuta Industrial Triangle had been neglected but said roads carpeting had been started in the industrial estate and assured the delegation that the remaining issues would also be resolved soon.

He said the process of bids opening for the construction of parking plazas in markets was being started soon. He said the CDA would continue working with the ICCI for the development of industrial areas, markets and the city.

The ICCI chief informed the CDA chairman about key issues faced by the business community and stressed the need for their solution.

He said the role of the CDA was very important in solving problems of the business community so it was hoped that the civic agency would play this role effectively. He said the establishment of a new industrial estate would attract new investment, boost industrialisation and create plenty of jobs in the region.

He also spoke about problems being faced in the lease renewal of industrial plots and said the ICCI would fully cooperate with the CDA in resolving this issue.

He said the civic agency should allow bifurcation of industrial plots for the promotion of industrial activities.

Abdul Rauf Alam, convener of the ICCI-CDA committee, said the business community was facing problems due to lack of parking facilities in the markets so the CDA should address this issue on a priority basis. He said the remaining development works, including carpeting of roads in the markets and industrial areas, should be completed soon.

He said sewerage lines should be refurbished and the sanitation further improved. He also called for appropriate steps to solve the problems of slum areas.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2021