ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday allotted 330 plots of various sizes to affectees in sectors I-11 and I-12. These plots were allotted through balloting which include 60 plots of 25×50 size and 50 plots of 25×60 size in Sector I-11 and 118 plots of 25×50 size and 102 plots of 30×60 size in Sector I-12. The plots have been allotted to the affectees whose land was acquired by CDA decades ago. The allotment of plots has been made through manual balloting by the committee constituted under the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) introduced on the directions of Islamabad Mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz. The balloting was supervised by CDA Member Estate Khushal Khan. On the occasion, the CDA Land director, the CDA Estate additional director and a large number of affectees of Islamabad and representatives of the media were also present. The manual procedure was adopted for balloting, under which one box was used for names of affectees and the other box was used for plot numbers. On the occasion, the affectees and reporters were asked to draw out the names. Estate Member Khushal Khan said that the process of allotment of plots to the affectees would continue. “Those affectees whose claims have not been cleared in this time will be included in the next balloting. Plots are also available in Sector I-12. However, the new sector at prime location will be opened for the rest of the affectees to settle their claims,” he said. He said that CDA was considering conducting balloting of plots every week, instead of 15 days to provide the affectees their rights at the earliest. “Issues related to Kuri village and other areas have been resolved. Affectees of these areas will get their plots in lieu of the acquired land,” he said. Mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz said that the present regime had introduced a very effective system for allotment of plots. “Under the new SOPs, merit and transparency will be ensured. Genuine persons will get their rights under the new SOPs. The past regimes had neglected the problems of the affectees. No development was made in the sectors opened for affectees of Islamabad during their tenures,” he said. He said that the authority’s focus was now on resolving issues related to the affectees. “The responsibility for the development of city has now been handed over to its elected representatives. We have introduced reforms in Land Directorate after receiving complaints about irregularities in the plot allotment process. With the introduction of these reforms in the Land Directorate, transparency will be ensured in allotment of plots,” the mayor said. He said that development work would be ensured in the new sectors after the clearance of claims of the affectees so that the deficiency of housing units in the federal capital could be met. Published in Daily Times, August 19th 2017.