CDA urged to take action against illegal basements in commercial buildings

Islamabad

Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Monday said many people have started making illegal basements in their commercial buildings which can result in heavy loss of life and property.

It asked the CDA to take prompt action to stop illegal digging and construction and take legal action against those who are playing with the life and property of masses for petty gains.

Majority of the buildings in Islamabad were constructed without basements to avoid additional cost but now owners have started digging basements as demand has outpaced supply, said ICST Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt.  Talking to leaders of the business community, he said that illegal commercialisation has increased the trend of constructing illegal basements in commercial as well as residential localities which may prove catastrophic for nearby residents and buildings.

Anyone can witness arrival of construction material on donkey carts especially at night time. This activity usually takes place in late hours when people think no one can check them which is unfortunate, he said.

He demanded a full fledge drive against violators and asked CDA to constitute a special surveillance cell to identify illegal construction, movement of construction material in night and digging of basements.

Illegal amounts to threatening not only lives of the residents and shoppers but also that of nearby buildings while such buildings cannot withstand mild shocks, he informed. The meeting was attended by former president of ICCI Waqar Aslam Hamdi, President All Pakistan Jamiat Al Quresh Khurshid Ahmed, veteran trade leader Jahangir Akhtar, former office bearers of ICST Malik Nadeem, Tahir Yasin Satti, Syed Nauman Shah and others.

They lauded the efforts of Mayor Islamabad and CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz to bring lost glory to Islamabad and offered unconditional support to ongoing operation against encroachments in different commercial centres.