ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Tuesday approved hiring of a consultant for the development of Safari Park in F-9 Park under 42(F) of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

Under this clause, the CDA can go for direct contracting with any government contractor.

The 10th meeting of the CDA board, chaired by Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, also took several other decisions, including the stoppage of the practice of transferring property registry through the CDA.

In 2022, it was decided that property in urban areas, which had been transferred through the registrar, will be further transferred by the CDA instead of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) revenue department. Following the decision, the ICT had also issued a circular. However, the board of revenue withdrew the notification on May 14 this year.

Decides to increase fee for change of trade for industrial plots

Following this, the CDA board also withdrew the decision made in 2022; therefore, registry property will be transferred through ICT revenue department. However, before transfer, the allottees are required to get the No-Objection Certificate from the CDA.

In urban areas of Islamabad, most of the property - residential and commercial - is being transferred by CDA. However, in some cases, mainly houses built in the 60s had been transferred through registry from the ICT revenue department.

The CDA board also decided to increase the fee for the change of trade for industrial plots. Additionally, approval was given to increase the fee for sub-division and amalgamation of industrial plots.

A press release said the fee had not been increased since 2005. Furthermore, the board directed the CDA to compile a list of industrial plots that are in non-conforming use.

Separately, a delegation from the corporate and business community met the CDA chairman to share with him their concerns and proposals.

The press release said that the CDA chief stated that the corporate sector and business community were invited to join various activities of Azadi Fest to be celebrated on Independence Day. He said everyone should join the independence celebrations on August 14. The delegation said they would extend their full cooperation and support for the Azadi Fest.

The CDA chief said the civic agency was introducing business-friendly and open-up policies for the corporate sector and business community to invest in projects for development of infrastructure in Islamabad.

He said positive steps were being taken to promote various sectors, including tourism, hotel industry, IT industry and new sector development. He mentioned that CDA was establishing a business facilitation centre to remove obstacles in the way of investors besides introducing ease of doing business. The business facilitation centre will provide necessary facilities to the business community under one roof.

During the meeting, the CDA chief directed that the recently-approved joint venture rules be displayed on the website of the CDA for better understanding of business community and citizens. Similarly, it was also decided that details of future projects and investment plans for the convenience of the corporate sector and business community would be made available on the website.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024