CDA seals 23 buildings in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The apex civic body of the federal capital on Thursday conducted an operation in the Ghauri Town Housing Society, sealing 23 offices belonging to real estate agents, builders and marketers.

The operation saw the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Enforcement Directorate, Planning Wing, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, Islamabad Police and other concerned departments seal the offices and three under-construction buildings.

The offices of real estate agents, builders and marketers were sealed as part of efforts to curtail further construction and to stop the sale and purchase of property in the society. An official stated that the offices targeted in Thursday’s operation were involved in the sale and purchase of plots in Ghauri Town or managing construction or marketing these plots.

The premises sealed include Rehman Plaza – Basement on Service Road,  Raja Akbar Company Site Office in Ghouri Town Phase-VII, Zahoor Law Associates Plaza in Ghouri Town Phase-VII, Pak-Kashmir Real Estate and Builders, Al-Amin Real Estate and Builders in Al-Farooq Plaza, Bilal Estate and Builders, Commander Saif Estate and Builders, Akber Residentia Site Office, Ali Arcade, two offices of Property Sale Purchase, two offices of Business Link Property, Ch Nadeem Sajid Property, Tooli Peer Real Estate Builders,  Top Link Property Office, Jamboo Real Estate, Subhan Allah Real Estate, Shalimar Real Estate,  Marhaba Real Estate, Green Wall Real Estate, Sada Bahar Property Advisor, New Pak Kashmir Property Office, Al-Basit Real Estate, Al-Haseeb Property Advisor, Tabbassum Property Office and Chinar Property and Builders.

CDA officials said that they have on several occasions advised and warned the public not to invest in the housing society through public notices. But the strategy appears to have failed with construction and property trading activities continuing unabated.

To stop further construction in the society, the CDA teams sealed three under-construction buildings and stopped ongoing construction work.

Designs approved

The Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s Design Vetting Committee (DVC) met at the CDA Headquarters on Thursday with the Planning and Design Member in the chair. The meeting considered various design proposals for upcoming construction projects in Islamabad.

During the meeting, seven design projects were deliberated upon, vetted and approved by the committee.

The designs were approved for plot 12-G in Sector G-8/1, plot 30 of Sector G-11 Markaz, plot 9-A in Sector I-10 Markaz, plot 9-B in Sector I-10 Markaz, plot 1 in Sector H-11/4 for a mosque, plot 17-F in the Diplomatic Enclave and plot 17-G in the enclave.

The meeting was attended by CDA officers including Architect-II director, Urban Planning director, Building Control Section director. A number of renowned professionals also attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2019.