ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ali Nawaz Awan said three bills passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday, will bring relief for the people of Islamabad.

The bills are: Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Bill for establishment of food authority in the capital, Islamabad Rent Restriction Amendment Act and Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act), 2020.

SAPM Ali Nawaz Awan said Islamabad, which had over two million population, did not have any authority to check adulteration in food items.

“In the absence of proper food authority, people of Islamabad have been facing issues of adulteration in food items including milk.

Besides, there is no proper system in place to check quality of meat being sold in markets, he said and added that once the food authority is set up these issues would be resolved.

Talking about the Rent Restriction Amendment Bill in his statement, he said it had been a long-standing demand of tenants and landlords in Islamabad seeking amendment in the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001.

“According to the amended bill, every agreement between landlord and tenant shall be presented before the rent controller for record keeping. Any payment, related to tenancy agreement shall be made through cross cheques and or with an official receipt/acknowledgement,” the bill said.

It further said: “Rents of residential and non-residential buildings shall be annually increased by 10pc automatically unless the parties decide to the contrary in writing.”

For dispute resolution between the landlord and tenant there shall be a mediation council, the bill said.

Due to weak law related to rent, traders of Islamabad have been facing several challenges that include abrupt eviction and increase in rent. This bill, sources said, will provide legal covers to both tenant and landlords.

Sources in CDA justified 10 pc annual increase in rent for commercial buildings but it will create problem for residents who have been living in rented house as Islamabad is already an expensive city.

They said that there should be 5pc annual increase for residential building. However, the mover of the bill said that, the landlord and tenant at their own could make agreement with mutual understanding.

Talking about the Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act) bill moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz, under which a Real State Authority will be set up in Federal Capital the SAPM said said: “I guess, this valuable bill has already been passed from Senate, now after the approval from NA it has become law.” There was a dire need for an authority to regulate real estate business in federal capital to protect rights of people, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020