Today, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will hold a meeting to discuss two proposed sites for international cricket and football stadiums in the federal capital, as well as a new policy for renting out plots to private schools under strict criteria. The meeting, which will be chaired by Noorul Amin Mengal, will take up a 28-point agenda.
Sources state that two sites of 20 acres each near Motorway (MI) and Kuri have been proposed for the cricket and football stadiums. The decision about these sites will be made during the meeting. Previously, the CDA had proposed a stadium in Saidpur last year, but the idea was later dropped. Similarly, in 2012, the CDA and the Pakistan Cricket Board had joined hands for the construction of a stadium, but the project was scrapped by the Supreme Court in 2018 as it was being built in Skharparian, which falls in the national park area.
According to sources, the CDA’s planning wing has proposed a site of 20 acres in the Kuri area for the football stadium. CDA officials have mentioned that having a cricket stadium in the capital was a “need of the hour”. However, they have also stated that Islamabad has one of the best football stadiums in the Sports Complex. The CDA should explore new sites, as well as assist the sports board in upgrading the Jinnah Stadium.
The board meeting will also discuss a policy related to renting plots for private schools. Previously, the CDA used to auction its plots, but this time the civic agency wants to rent out its school plots to private school operators to shift the existing schools from residential areas. Schools registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), and the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) will be considered.
The CDA officials have stated that the plots will be rented out based on a 100-point formula. Mr Mengal has said that the CDA is going to introduce a rental policy for schools to end the non-conforming use of residential houses. The chairman has also confirmed that schools charging up to Rs5,000 fees per month will be eligible to have 25 marks, while schools charging Rs5000-6000 monthly fees will get 20 marks.
It is worth noting that the civic agency cannot rent out its plots as per existing rules, but is supposed to auction plots. However, if the said summary is approved by the board, then CDA will go for amendments to the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations.
During the meeting, the board will also consider CDA’s proposal of auctioning vending points and shops in art and craft villages, matters relating to parking plazas, and revised layout plan of sectors C-16 and C-17 will also be taken up.
