Senate body directs CDA to propose amendments in its existing law

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to propose amendments in its existing law to allow public-private partnership development, open D-Chowk in front of the Parliament House building for the people and establish a check post there.
The committee met with Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood in the chair at the Parliament House on Thursday. The committee discussed various issues relating to the CDA.
The committee also directed the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) to resolve the issue of the PIMS Hospital. The doctors and paramedical staff have been on strike for more than 12 days demanding separation of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University from the hospital.
The meeting was informed that total annual income of the CDA is Rs 2 billion, while its expenditures are Rs 10 billion. The CDA meets its expenditures including salaries by auctioning plots and leasing land.
It was informed to the committee that the CDA has sold a total of 2,702 residential plots and 225 commercial plots during the last 10 years.
The committee expressed its serious concern over selling plots and directed the CDA to stop auctions of plots and find another permanent source of income to meet its expenditures. The committee members said if the CDA continues the auction of plots then it would not have land in future.
The CDA member planning told the committee that under the law, the CDA cannot launch any project with private partnership. On this, the committee directed the CDA to prepare proposals for legislation to amend the existing law to allow public private partnership adventure.
The committee members also expressed concern over parking issues in Islamabad. Senator Muhammad Yousaf Badini said that the people are facing parking problems due to big showrooms of vehicles and rent cars in Blue Area. He said that the owners of showrooms and rent a car park their cars in the parking area and the people have to face parking problems for this reason.
The committee members also expressed concern over building of 80 feet deep basements in earth for parking of plazas and others commercial buildings. They said that such basement is dangerous for the people in case of any emergency.