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With the top court resuming hearings in the case of non-conforming use of residential buildings in Islamabad today (Thursday), the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has submitted a list 45 houses which are being used as government offices.
A list submitted by CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal includes the sectors, street addresses, and the names of the departments occupying each house. A copy of the list is available with The Express Tribune.
Interestingly, 14 of the 45 the CDA are only identified as ‘government office’, because, CDA officials told The Express Tribune, they are being used by ‘sensitive’ departments.
The official added that CDA officials were not allowed to enter these 14 offices but the agency can confirm they are under government control.
Home-based embassies
The CDA has also submitted a list of 44 foreign missions based in residential units which are blocking roads for security reasons.
The list has also mentions that plots have been allotted to a number of these foreign missions in the Diplomatic Enclave but they are still operating in residential areas.
At the same time, the list states that no plots have been allotted in the enclave for official residences of the ambassadors of Cuba or Yemen, so both envoys continue to live in residential areas.
It is further submitted that although the Indian ambassador’s residence in the enclave is operational, a residence in F-6/2 is still in his use.
It is also revealed that no plots have been allotted for the embassies of South Africa, Turkmenistan Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, or Algeria, and that for this reason they still operate from residential units.
The CDA has told the SC that notices have already been issued to the owners of units rented to diplomatic missions.
Self-correction
The CDA further stated in its report that the public-at-large has been informed through mass media that the civic agency will seal premises in case of failure bring them into conformity with land use rules.
“The message has brought fruitful results and violators are voluntarily bringing their properties into conforming use. So far, 525 premises have been brought into conforming use by owners or occupants. The total number of non-conforming units is [now] 953, [down from the] original 1,695,”, says the report.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2016.
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