Plan to allow commercial activities in Islamabad's Zone III raises eyebrows

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning a major commercial area in Zone III, which is otherwise a protected area where construction activities are prohibited, even for small houses on private land. The CDA, through a joint venture with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), is developing Margalla Enclave in the Kuri area. For this housing project, a 3. 8km link road from Park Road to the housing scheme is being developed, with earthwork almost complete. The road passes through Zone III, a protected zone where, under CDA regulations, no construction activity can take place.

However, the CDA is planning to develop a mega commercial area on both sides of the road. To achieve this, the federal government has already granted the road the status of an arterial/major road of Islamabad. The federal government, through an official letter, directed the CDA to apply the regulations already notified for GT Road, Islamabad Expressway, Srinagar Highway, IJP Road, Lehtrar Road, Murree Road, Fateh Jang Road, Park Road, Kuri Road, Simly Dam Road, Kahuta Road and Japan Road to the 3. 8km road to make it an international-standard urban avenue. Residents barred from building even…