Islamabad : Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry along with a delegation co-chaired a meeting with Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CDA Affairs to discuss the issue of non-conforming businesses and analyse its negative impact on the growth of business activities in the federal capital. Abdul Rauf Alam Convener ICCI CDA Committee, Ch. Nadeem ud Din Chairman Task Force, Nasir Chaudhry, Tehmas Butt and CDA representatives were also present during the meeting.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry briefed Ali Nawaz Awan about the adverse effect of sealing businesses due to non-conforming use, especially at a time when our economy was already facing great challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that many of these businesses and industries have been doing business in the Capital for the past several years and many of them are also new which are contributing to the GDP and creating employment in the country, therefore issuing them notices or sealing them was not the right approach during the current prevailing circumstances. He emphasized that CDA should consider the other options to regularize them on compounded payment of charges including payment of commercial charges for all those conducting commercial activities on roofs or terraces which would also generate significant revenue for the civic body. He said that regularizing these businesses was the best option to settle this long outstanding issue, which was now creating hurdles in the growth of business activities. He also discussed various options with Ali Nawaz Awan for the regularization of all such businesses including industries in the industrial estates which need to apply for change of trade. Facilitation of all types of industries is essential for the country which will also contribute significantly towards exports and help the country move towards economic revival, he added.
Abdul Rauf Alam, Convener ICCI CDA Committee, Ch. Nadeem ud Din Chairman Task Force and other members of delegation also presented various proposals to deal with the issue of non-conforming businesses in a manner that should not disturb the growth of business activities and avoid the closure of any type of business which would create unemployment and also have a detrimental impact on the economy.
Speaking at the occasion, Ali Nawaz Awan, SAPM on CDA Affairs said that the government was focusing on promoting ease of doing business and urged upon the CDA Management to explore all possible options within the legal framework to regularize non-conforming businesses. He said that CDA should prepare a sector-wise list and give timelines to all non-conforming businesses in liaison with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry for their regularization by fulfilling all legal requirements.
Ali Nawaz Awan also discussed various other key issues of the business community including the pace of development works in markets and industrial areas and assured that CDA would try to complete all developments within timelines to facilitate the growth of business activities and help make Islamabad the most beautiful Capital with a supporting infrastructure in place to complement its beauty.