CDA sets new timelines for property transfer

New set of procedures for issuing NDC set to be introduced next week

ISLAMABAD: Having restarted the one-window operation, the civic agency in the federal capital is now looking to reform it by creating a standard operating procedure for the no-demand certificates (NDCs) which is required to transfer residential houses and plots.

The new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) are aimed at making the entire process simpler and complete it in under 20 days. It is expected to be implemented from next week.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is creating the new set of procedures for NDC certificates as part of reforms introduced in the one-window system, to make the system more effective and faster.

In the first phase, new SOPs regarding the NDCs have been created with clear timeframes identified.

Initially, the new SOPs will be applicable to NDCs for the developed residential sectors of Islamabad. The SOP will be expanded to other sectors later.

Moreover, under the SOP, applications for the transfer of property will be duly redirected to the relevant department.

These applications will be sorted and sent to the CDA Building Control Directorate within a single working day for further processing.

After receiving the application, the CDA building control directorate will determine the size of the property indicated through a survey. It will then send its no-objection certificate (NOC) to the one-window directorate. The building control directorate will be bound to complete this process within five-working-days.

The NOCs will then, via the one-window directorate, be sent to the revenue directorate to calculate the property tax and water charges for the property in question and send it back to the one-window directorate within three working days.

After the building control and the revenue department complete their work, the documents will be sent to the CDA Estate Management Directorate (residential) via the one-window directorate. The estate management directorate will then have a further five working days to issue the NDC. In case there is any legal problem regarding any property, the matter will be sent to CDA’s law directorate. The law directorate will be bound to give its considered opinion on the matter within five working days.

Once all matters are sorted, they will be sent back to the Estate Management Directorate for a second time to issue the transfer letter.

In case someone wants the matter to be processed even faster, they can pay fees for completing the matter urgently and receive their transfer letter within just three days.

To further facilitate the public, the one-window directorate will be introducing a system to send voice updates to brief them on the progress of their application.

CDA has directed the estate management, building control, revenue and law directorates to ensure that the new SOPs are fully implemented.

These SOPs will be applicable from February 6. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2019.