ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Monday gave a go-ahead to the civic agency to provide pre-approved building plans to residents for the construction of houses and also decided to revive a commission for revision of the master plan.

The board meeting, which held with chairman Mohammad Anwarul Haq in the chair, asked the CDA’s concerned wing to prepare a booklet within eight weeks which had approved building plans for various sizes of plots. After preparation of the booklet, the CDA will go for providing pre-approved plan of houses to citizens.

The board also directed the CDA to approach the federal government for formation of commission for revision of the master plan. The board was told that earlier a commission was formed some years ago, which had completed interim report and left proper revision of the master plan to a consultant firm, which has so far not been hired.

Meanwhile, the earlier commission had become redundant. The board directed the CDA’s planning wing to approach the government for notification of a new commission to revise the city’s blue print.

According to authors of the master plan which was prepared in 1960, it should have been revised after every 20 years, however, no proper revision has been made till today. However, over 45 selective changes were made by successive governments.

Meanwhile, the board also approved hiring of a consultant for proposing a way forward regarding illegal housing societies and unapproved building. Similarly, the board also gave a go-ahead to enhance the floor area ratio (FAR) for new apartment buildings in new sectors.

In the new sector, the apartment buildings will have 1:6 and 1:8 FAR depending on plot size. As per existing bylaws, the FAR of apartment building is 1:4 and 1:5. However, it has been enhanced for new sectors.

The board also discussed several other agenda items including proposal of increasing fare of metro buses and way out of mushroom growth of unauthorised construction on private land in Zone III.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023