ISLAMABAD: The federal government is contemplating setting up a commission to make modifications to Zone III’s zoning laws.
Numerous concerns and impending civic body plans were discussed during a meeting held on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office.
They said that prominent government officials including CDA Chairman Mohammad Usman attended the meeting as it suggested a commission, to be formed by the government, would make decisions about amendments to the Zoning Regulations of Zone III rather than the CDA.
According to the zoning regulations of 1992, Islamabad is divided into 5 zones, each of which has its own rules and regulations.
Zone III, which covers over 50,000 acres, is dispersed across both public and private lands. Around 20,000 of the total acres are privately owned, and the civic agency has no laws or regulations regarding them.
A committee was established last month under the direction of member planning after the CDA board voted to amend the zoning rules for Zone III.
However, sources said that now a panel of specialists, including environmentalists, will make the revisions rather than CDA’s committee.
According to draft regulations that the CDA’s planning division had produced a few weeks before, old communities on Margalla Hills were to be conserved, and future construction would be prohibited.
According to the sources, it has been suggested that locals’ private property like Shah Allah Ditta be included in Zone I and given the new designation Zone I-A.
By including a new sub-zone of 5, places like Kot Hatyal and Bhara Kahu would be included in Zone IV.
Similarly, under the suggestions, Zone IV would also include the region along Murree Road near Rawal Dam Chowk, where various building projects have already been completed.
However, CDA is violating the people’s fundamental rights by neither purchasing their land that is located in the zone nor controlling construction activities there, which has caused an explosion in the number of unauthorized structures.
Besides, people who own land in the zone frequently suffer constraints since they are unable to construct new homes on their property to CDA zoning requirements.
Furthermore, the civic organization never made any sincere steps to address residents’ problems. A report that was given to the cabinet in 2010 instructed the CDA to conduct a study in Zone III. Later, however, no adequate work was carried out.
Margalla Hills are regarded as Islamabad’s lungs, according to CDA officials, hence no ordinances would be drafted that would undermine the area’s natural greenery.
They claimed that there was a need for rules and restrictions for privately owned property in the area and that they should be aimed at relieving residents, particularly small landowners, rather than at benefiting developers and owners of housing projects.
To preserve the green nature of the city, the officials argued that substantial residential structures, whether owned by the government or privately, should not be permitted in Zone III.
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