The commission formed by the federal government to review the master plan of Islamabad has decided to present its preliminary report to the government before July 13.
“It is likely that within the stipulated timeline [July 13] the commission will present its report containing commentary on the terms of reference (TORs) set by the cabinet for revision of the master plan,” said a statement issued by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) after a meeting of the commission.
The commission was formed in December last year with a six-month time to revise the master plan.
However, the commission has yet to place an advertisement for hiring a consultant which will carry out studies.
The statement said the commission meeting chaired by CDA chairman Amer Ali Ahmed reviewed the progress in accordance with the assigned TORs.
“The commission is now in its final stages and firming up its findings on certain key matters.
These issues revolve around general policies and guidelines for the CDA as well as a framework for future development in Islamabad,” read the statement.
The commission has conducted several sessions and proceeded with caution so as to incorporate the international best practices in its observations.
Interactive sessions with the public have yielded considerable input along with comments received through the social media.
Reportedly, more than 4,000 suggestions have been received so far.
The statement said that the commission is also proposing a technical consultant who would carry out analysis of each structure, waterway, examine national trends and propose how the city will look in 2020 given the current planning regulations and proposed guidelines set by the commission.
The forecast is likely to be not restricted to just 2020 but also be indicative of the next 20 years after that as well.
The analysis and studies to be carried out by the consultant will provide a guideline for the CDA and city planners, once approved and finalised.
The commission’s report will also comment on the irregular growth in Islamabad and occupation of state land as well as the current drive to clear encroachments.
Meanwhile, after the federal government had lifted the height restriction in the capital city, city managers have proposed new by-laws for commercial buildings.
The proposed by-laws were finalised by a committee headed by Building Control director Faisal Naeem.
“The committee has finalised its work and we will present the new by-laws before the CDA board for approval,” he said.
Naeem said that there would be no restriction on the number of storeys, but the owners would have to construct the buildings in accordance with the floor area ratio (FAR).
Other CDA officials said that for the central markets, the committee has proposed FAR of 1:6 for plot measuring over 1,000sq yards, and 1:5 for a 1,000sq yard plot.
For Blue Area, it has been proposed that for a plot measuring up to 30 sq yards, the FAR would be 1:8, for 3,000sq yard to 5,000sq yards 1:9, and for 5,000sq yards and above 1:10.
Similarly, for class-three shopping centres, one additional floor for making ground plus two storeys will be allowed.
The CDA board is the final authority to approve or reject these by-laws.
The CDA board was to take up the proposed by-laws at a meeting on June 14, but because of the unavailability of the member responsible, the matter was deferred to the next meeting.
Sources said the committee which finalised the proposed by-laws also recommended that revenue generated from granting approval in accordance with the new by-laws should be spent on improving services in the areas.
They said that there is a dire need to improve services in Islamabad, as available services such as water and sewerage are insufficient.
“Encouraging the trend of high-rise buildings is a good sign, but there is a need to look into other allied issues,” said a CDA town planner.
He said the fire brigade had no capacity to handle fire incidents in high-rise buildings.
Currently, Emergency and Disaster Management of Metropolitan Corporation (MCI) equipment have a height limit of 68m, which means it cannot handle fires in high-rises.
“We will have to take other formations such as the MCI on board before proposing the new height limit,” said an official of the CDA.
He said that there is also a need to get the existing by-laws strictly implemented as a majority of high-rise buildings had no completion certificates – a prerequisite for operating a building.
He said most of the owners of high-rise buildings ignored the CDA by-laws and are operating the buildings without completion certificates.
The completion certificate is issued for a building after it has been checked for structural stability, arrangements for fire safety, etc.
Meanwhile, CDA officials said new buildings by-laws for major roads such as Murree Road, Park Road, Lehtrar Road, Islamabad Expressway and GT Road had also been lined up for the next board meeting.
These by-laws were finalised last year by the planning wing, but approval from the board was not yet taken.
When contacted, CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said that at the last board meeting it was decided that the new by-laws would be taken up at the next meeting.
“We proposed by-laws to facilitate investors and developers and encourage high-rise buildings,” he said.
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