ISLAMABAD: Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) Deputy Mayor Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi said Wednesday that a joint committee, comprising of representatives of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and industry (ICCI), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and MCI, would be formed to review the high charges in regard to construction of additional storeys in commercial buildings.
Addressing the business community at ICCI, he said that the business community was playing an important role in generating economic activities and MCI would fully cooperate in resolving their key issues.
Naqvi said that efforts would be made to form a joint committee, comprising of representatives of ICCI, MCI, and CDA, to review the high charges incurred on construction of additional storeys.
He said MCI would launch an awareness campaign to educate the citizens about the importance of effective land utilisation through well-designed constructions.
He also said that the business community should consider building multi-storied parking plazas on public-private partnership basis to cope with parking problems being faced by commuters in different markets.
Naqvi agreed that there should only be one agency to regulate the businesses, as regulation by multiple agencies was creating problems for businessmen. He said the issue of stamp paper value and other highlighted issues would be taken up with relevant authorities for redressal.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Sheikh Amir Waheed said that more than 90 per cent issues of traders and industrialists were related to CDA and MCI, adding that both organisations should cooperate in addressing complaints to facilitate the growth of business activities.
He said that the CDA had agreed in principal to allow additional storey in markets, but very high charges were imposed due to which additional construction was not a viable option. He stressed that the CDA should reduce these charges in consultation with ICCI to promote commercial activities.
Waheed also said that eight agencies were regulating businesses in the federal capital at the moment, due to which businessmen were facing many problems and stressed the need to bring operations under a single entity.
