PEW asks CDA to refrain from harassing the local and international business community

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday asked the CDA to refrain from harassing the business community of the Capital city on false pretexts.

CDA officials have planned to mint money from the business community by blackmailing them which should be noticed, it said.

The department has issued notices to hundreds of owners of commercial properties to make verandas in their buildings otherwise CDA will demolish the buildings and recover the cost from the owners of the properties which is illegal, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that hundreds of local and multinational companies are operating in buildings which are without verandas as its construction is not mandatory.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that commercial buildings are being constructed since decades, CDA approves the building plan and after completion of the project issue completion certificate.

Why hundreds of buildings constructed over last many decades were issued completion certificates if these were illegal, he asked.

At one hand CDA is illegally harassing the business community while on the other hand, it is hand in glove with the encroachers. State land is being grabbed with the support of CDA officials which is going unchecked.

The CDA chairman claims that anti encroachment drive will continue and it will target all illegal kiosks, tea stalls etc, illegal occupation of government sports ground, all illegal tuck shops, use of hand carts etc in parks and recreational areas, but on the ground situation remains otherwise.