Capital can face serious water crisis in future: DC Islamabad 

News Desk

Islamabad: The water table is abnormally low and the resultant water shortage could plunge the federal capital into a serious crisis in the future, said Deputy Commissioner of  Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon on Wednesday.

DC Memon shared this worrying scenario whilst addressing the business community during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

The consistent water boring in Islamabad is the main cause of underground water depletion, Memon informed the traders. He said that the business community should raise its voice against this issue for its optimum solution.

The business community should work with the capital administration and other stakeholders in curbing frauds in cooperative housing societies. The DC said that construction of buildings over Nullahs in Islamabad is a serious issue and stressed that the business community should be engaged in addressing this issue.

The deputy commissioner said that the business community should arrange fire alarms, fire extinguishers and water tanks in commercial and industrial buildings to cope with fire incidents, adding that he was ready to facilitate them in such efforts.

He assured the business community that he was ready to work with ICCI in addressing the other major issues of the business community, including encroachments in markets, board and professional taxes.

ICCI President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that instead of issuing notices to the business community requiring tough firefighting requirements, these requirements should be revised in consultation with the business community to facilitate appropriate measures.

ICCI Bakhtawari informed Islamabad DC that two underground parking lots in Jinnah Super Market should be operationalized and shifting of courts from F-8 Markaz should be expedited to address the concerns of the business community.

He said that encroachments from markets should be removed in consultation with stakeholders and pushcarts set up under Ahsaas Program should be removed from markets to a separate location.

He said that the professional tax falls will be the remit of the local government and therefore it should be suspended till the conclusion the election of local government in Islamabad.