CDA reclaims 15 acres from shopping mall

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark operation, the Capital Development Authority has bulldozed encroachment by a major mall on state land in the city.

A residential complex comprising around 400 rooms and an office complex containing around 150 rooms, were turned to dust amidst stiff resistance which left six people injured, including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Enforcement director.

The unprecedented anti-encroachment operation yielded 15 acres of prime state land worth over Rs20 billion.

CDA Member Estate Khushal Khan supervised the joint operation between the Enforcement and Building Control Section wings from the beginning until its conclusion. Enforcement director, Building Control Section director, Market and Roads Maintenance director, Public Relations director, Urban Planning director, Islamabad Assistant Commissioner Dr Faisal, and officers of concerned formations were also present on this occasion along with 150 officials of Enforcement wing, 30 officials of Environment Wing, Assistant Directors and Building Inspectors of BCS. Heavy machinery of MPO Directorate and other formations were also utilised during the operation.

The mega operation against encroachments on Estate Land was started early in the morning. The staff of Centaurus Mall twice resisted the staff and threw stones at CDA teams, injuring three officers of the civic body, including director enforcement, and two police officials who were accompanying CDA staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2017.