ISLAMABAD: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) wants to get its issues resolved by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), including shifting of an asphalt plant which is set up near the university, before the upcoming board of trustees (BoT) meeting to be held shortly.

IIUI through an official letter has requested the CDA chairman for a meeting to discuss five issues which are part of the agenda of the meeting of the BoT.

According to the letter, IIUI Rector Prof Dr Samina Malik wants to meet the CDA chairman to discuss the issues. “Through an official letter last week, we have requested the CDA chairman for a meeting to discuss our issues, including the shifting of the asphalt plant,” said IIUI’s spokesperson Nasir Farid.

He said the meeting between the rector and the chairman will be held this week. The letter said five issues were to be taken up in the meeting: shifting of the asphalt plant and the Machinery Pool Directorate of CDA from the university premises, construction of remaining service roads around the university (H-10), withdrawal of letters issued by CDA to Pir of Darbar Mastal Sharif regarding utilisation of land, payment of outstanding electricity bills of Faisal Mosque and annual ground rent (AGR) of the university premises at H-10.”

Letter requests chairman for meeting to discuss five issues which are part of agenda of university’s forthcoming BoT meeting

The asphalt plant is being operated at H-10 near the IIUI which has been demanding its removal for the last many years, terming it a health hazard.

A working paper of the IIUI, which was prepared for the last BoT meeting held a few months ago and could not be taken up, stated: “In pursuance of decisions of the BoT [previous meeting], a meeting of Rector IIUI was held with the Chairman CDA on 09-07-2020.”

It said the then chairman CDA had agreed that the Planning Wing of the CDA will identify an alternate sites for shifting of the asphalt plant in the first instance within 15 days. Two reminders were also issued.

“In year 2021, once again the rector met the CDA chairman to pursue the case and the latter directed concerned officers to shift the plant within two months. Meanwhile, a writ petition was filed in Islamabad High Court (IHC) by a student for shifting of the plant. The IHC in its judgement dated 20-01-2022 directed the CDA to shift the plant within six months. However, the CDA has filed an intra-court appeal in the IHC and no hearing has been held so far,” added the working paper.

About the service roads around IIUI, the working paper said this issue was also taken up with the CDA time and again.

The civic agency had informed the university in August this year that the construction of a bridge and roads was under process for approval and tenders will be floated after completion of all formalities and allocation of funds.

The issue of property tax is also undecided as according to IIUI working paper “the current claim of property tax by CDA up to 31-10-2023 is Rs685 million.”

Speaking to Dawn, in response to the previous letter of IIUI in December last year, CDA officials had said the civic agency had filed an intra-court appeal in the IHC as the asphalt plant was set up on CDA’s own land, not on the university land.

They said as far as construction of service roads was concerned, the CDA in the past had constructed 42pc service roads on west and north sides of the university and soon work will be started on the remaining roads. They said property tax on part of the university was pending while the university had also constructed a number of buildings without getting approval from the CDA.

Meanwhile, sources said the issue related to the shifting of the asphalt plant would be resolved amicably.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2024