ISLAMABAD: The owners of commercial plots in all the ‘marakiz’ across the sectoral areas probably receive an approval of one additional storey on their existing structure, but the same benefit is subject to the finding and recommendations of a committee which had already been formed by the civic body’s management to amend the Islamabad Zoning Regulations (Building Control) 2005. The committee to amend the said regulations includes the Member Planning and Design, the Director Urban Planning, the Director Building Control Section, the Director Estate Management as its members while a consultant lawyer and engineer will participate in the meeting on honorary basis. The said regulations primarily discussed the details of authorised and unauthorised building uses and building regulatory procedures in the capital city. This is one of the important set of regulations which are being used to favour blue-eyed persons — by moulding its clauses. The implementation of these regulations in letter and spirit are quite necessary to protect the planned growth in the city otherwise a narrow unwise modification can convert this city into a concrete jungle. Yesterday, a meeting between the civic body’s officials and representatives of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) was held in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the deliberations on the demands earlier made by the business community of Islamabad. President ICCI Khalid Malik, Vice President ICCI Tahir Ayub and President Jinnah Super Market Traders Association, Ijaz Abbasi, represented the business community while the Mayor of Islamabad Shaikh Ansar Aziz, the Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kiani and the Director Building Control Shahfi Marwat, also attended the meeting from the CDA’s side. The owners of old commercial buildings situated in the “marakiz” of Islamabad were again demanded to extension their expired lease period and also give approval for the construction of an extra storey on their existing structures. Sources briefed Daily Times; “Both the problems of businessmen are interlinked as the extensions of their expired lease is pending just because of illegal construction on their roof tops and if the Authority allows them for an extra floor then their illegal constructions would automatically be regularised.” The Mayor of Islamabad Shaikh Ansar Aziz positively listened to the grievances of the ICCI and agreed principally to allow them the construction of one extra storey but only if the already constituted committee allowed for such an approval after scrutinising all the aspects. The Member Planning of the CDA, Asad Kiani, while talking to Daily Times said: “We have agreed to allow the extra storey in the “marakiz” but we have to check whether it is feasible or not whereas we also recommended the charges as per market rate.” The things are looking to go in the right directions by both the sides, but a difference of opinion is expected on the rate of charges for the approval under question as the CDA wants to impose charges as per market rate while the business community wants nominal charges. However, a member of the committee to amend the byelaws commented on the condition of anonymity:”The committee is mandated to review complete byelaws, but a proposal to grant the permission for the construction of an additional storey is a core issue.” He added: “Nothing is finalised yet, but if the committee allows such an approval then each building will receive the relaxation to construct one additional storey across the board.”