The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board approved several key initiatives on Thursday, including the construction of a parking plaza with commercial shops on a plot adjacent to the Centaurus Shopping Mall, the purchase of two tree transplanters to relocate trees obstructing development projects, and the auction of over 35 commercial plots in various business centers.
The decisions were made during a meeting held at CDA Headquarters, chaired by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, with all board members in attendance. Several agenda items were discussed and finalized during the session.
The board approved the auction of commercial plots, with the chairman directing that plots of various categories be included in the auction to attract investment. He emphasized that the auctioned plots should be offered with two-year installment plans and be equipped with all basic amenities, free from encroachments.
To address tree relocation needs, the board approved the purchase of two transplanters. The chairman instructed that the procurement process be expedited to ensure trees affected by development projects could be relocated swiftly. Previously, the CDA had rented transplanters from other departments, which caused delays in such projects.
The board also approved the construction of a parking plaza on the CDA-owned plot adjacent to Centaurus Mall. The chairman directed that commercial shops be included within the parking plaza and proposed plans for a similar parking facility in Sector I-8.
The plot in question, valued at billions of rupees, has long been used as a parking lot by the private shopping mall. Under the tenure of former Municipal Corporation Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz, 20 kanals of government land were recovered from the private mall, including structures such as alleged residential quarters for security guards, which were subsequently demolished by the CDA. Despite these efforts, the vacant plot continues to serve as a parking area for the private mall.
To safeguard the high-value plot from land grabbing and encroachment, the CDA Board decided to construct a government-owned parking plaza with commercial shops. This initiative will not only secure the land but also generate additional revenue for the authority.
