Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CDA Affairs said that the government has overcome the difficult economic situation and development works in Islamabad would be done on priority basis including uplift of markets and industrial areas. He said that underpasses on Kashmir Highway and Express Way would also be constructed. He expressed these views while addressing a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) that met him at CDA Headquarters led by Muhammad Ahmed Waheed President and Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Convener, ICCI CDA Committee. Amir Ali Ahmed Chairman CDA and Faisal Naeem Baig, Director BCS CDA were also present at the occasion. Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President, Saif ur Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, Tariq Sadiq, Ch. Waheed ud Din, Khalid Iqbal Malik, Zafar Bakhtawari, Nasir Qureshi, Mirza Muhammad Ali, Khalid Chaudhry and Tahir Ayub were in the delegation.

Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that for the last many years no development work was done in markets due to which their basic infrastructure was now in dilapidated condition. He said that markets were facing acute problem of parking and urged that CDA should construct parking plazas in markets to address this key issue. He said that CDA Board had approved amendments in industrial building byelaw, but they were not notified as yet and emphasized that CDA should notify the amended laws to facilitate the growth of local industry.

Amir Ali Ahmed, Chairman CDA said that the civic body has no issue of funds and announced that CDA has committed Rs.250 million for uplift of major markets in Islamabad and Rs.100 million for development of Kahuta Industrial Triangle. He said ICCI should cooperate in identifying development works in markets and added that ICCI would be taken on board in monitoring progress of development works. He also announced to form a Committee under Member Planning CDA to address lease issues of traders and industrialists. He also announced another Committee led by Director ICT to address the issues of fruits and vegetables wholesale market in I-11/4, Islamabad including fee issue for construction of additional storey.

Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Convener, ICCI CDA Committee thanked Ali Nawaz Awan, SAPM on CDA Affairs and Amir Ali Ahmed, Chairman CDA for taking keen interest in the issues of business community and hoped that work would soon be started on the uplift of markets and industrial area. Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President, Saif ur Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, Zafar Bakhtawari former President ICCI and others also spoke at the occasion and said that CDA should allot green areas in Blue Area for parking and address parking issue of other markets.