Islamabad, September 4, 2026: Former Senate chairman and senior political leader Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has called for a broad-based national debate and consensus among all provinces and political parties before moving ahead with the creation of new administrative units.
Speaking during an interactive session at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday, Bukhari said any decision regarding new administrative units was of national importance and should be taken through consultation, mutual understanding and consensus among all stakeholders.
He said concerns raised by the ICCI leadership regarding Islamabad’s governance were valid and deserved serious consideration and implementation.
Addressing the issue of sealing commercial buildings, notices and deadlines issued to property owners, Bukhari stressed that responsibility should be fixed wherever negligence or failure to perform duties by Capital Development Authority (CDA) officers and staff had contributed to the current situation.
He said officials responsible for administrative shortcomings should be held accountable instead of allowing institutional failures to continue unchecked.
On the National Finance Commission (NFC) distribution mechanism, Bukhari said the existing arrangement primarily provided for distribution among the provinces, adding that the question of Islamabad’s share also needed to be addressed and an appropriate solution found.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood, in his welcome address, emphasized the need for meaningful participation of the business community in formulating any new governance structure or policy.
He said businessmen were among the major contributors to the national exchequer and therefore deserved an effective role in decision-making.
Sardar Tahir said businessmen, members of the National Assembly, public representatives and other stakeholders should be taken on board to develop workable and sustainable solutions to the city’s governance and business-related challenges.
He also stressed that the CDA’s planning, infrastructure and civic facilities must be aligned with Islamabad’s existing and future requirements.
The ICCI president raised concerns over what he described as broad action against private institutions, businesses and commercial buildings following incidents such as fires.
He said the recent 15-day deadline issued to private plazas for installation of comprehensive firefighting equipment highlighted the need for a strong, practical and transparent regulatory framework rather than ad-hoc measures.
Former minister Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warrich, former state minister Tasneem Qureshi and former MPA Sania Kamran also shared their views on governance, institutional coordination and issues confronting the business community.
They emphasized the need for the chamber to maintain stronger engagement with decision-makers, stakeholders and other influential quarters and to regularly bring them together to discuss issues confronting the business community.
They stressed that such engagement should focus on achieving clear and practical outcomes rather than remaining limited to discussions.
ICCI senior member Babar Bhatti highlighted the chamber’s role in promoting ease of doing business for the benefit of the business community and the country.
The session was attended by a large number of ICCI executive members and representatives of the business community.
