Chairman Capital Development Authority and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa met with Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Tourism Affairs Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, representatives of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran and other stakeholders at CDA Headquarters to discuss solutions for issues faced by the business community, industries and main markets in the federal capital.
The meeting, attended by IG Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, CDA Board Member Administration Talat Mahmood, Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafiz, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon and senior officers, agreed to establish an effective mechanism for communication and mutual consultation to resolve traders’ concerns.
Participants decided to form a working group that will directly address the legitimate demands of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, traders and the wider business community. The CDA working group will hold regular follow-up meetings in the first week of every month to monitor progress and ensure timely resolution of outstanding matters.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasised that the authority’s objective is the betterment of Islamabad and that CDA will take all necessary measures to provide improved facilities to traders and businesses. He underlined the authority’s readiness for coordinated communication and ongoing consultation with market stakeholders as part of the CDA working group mandate.
Randhawa said traders from relevant Markazs and commercial markets will be included in the upgradation plan alongside sectoral improvements in Islamabad, and that the working group is intended to close coordination gaps and expedite problem solving. He noted that CDA is funding development projects from its own resources while progressing a digitisation drive of records and rapid introduction of a cashless system to streamline services.
The meeting also commended CDA’s actions to remove encroachments across the federal capital. Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi thanked Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his cooperation and said he will play a constructive role in resolving issues faced by traders and industrialists, stressing that consultation and coordination with the business community are essential to keep the city’s commerce moving.
Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Tourism Affairs Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan reiterated that promoting business and economic activity is a government priority and pledged full cooperation with CDA efforts. Islamabad Chamber president Sardar Tahir Mahmood welcomed inclusion of the business community in consultations, saying it will build confidence and help address matters such as transfer fees related to property transactions that were raised during the meeting.
The newly formed working group is expected to advance market upgradation plans, resolve coordination gaps, and provide a regular platform where the CDA working group, traders and relevant government departments can review progress and action items each month.
