Prized land: CDA cancels five plots allotted to Russian Embassy

Decision taken after diplomatic mission stated it had no intention of using the land

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has cancelled lease of five plots allotted to the Russian Embassy after the diplomatic mission said it did not wish to use the land.

The decision came after the embassy wrote a letter to the authority five months ago stating that they had not used the land nor were they intending to use it in the future.

The embassy was allotted five plots, numbering 12 to 16. Each of the plots, located in Block 6 of the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad, measured 2,700 square yards.

The land was offered to Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Government of Pakistan on March 21, 2007 and in turn to the Russian Embassy. However, the plots were offered on the condition that cost of land would have to be paid. The cost was worked out to Rs202.5 million payable up to July 21 2007.

However, CDA said the diplomatic mission has not paid the premium till the date.

Despite this, the authorities said they had levied late payment charges in accordance with the land allotment letter. The CDA also issued a notice to the mission for paying outstanding dues amounting to Rs421m including the premium, annual ground rent (AGR) and delayed charges on AGR.

In a response to the notice, the Russian Embassy sent CDA letter on April 7 2016 informing the authority that they had never used the land nor did they have any intention to use these plots. The authority hence decided to cancel these plots from the name of the Embassy
of Russia.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2016.