Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to take action against nonconforming use of ‘institutional plots’ due to influential positions of their owners.

A large number of precious plots worth billions of rupees allotted for the specific purposes on controlled rates are being used contrary to their terms of allotments.

A recent survey conducted by the authority’s Planning Wing had pointed out a total of 11 such plots alone in sector H8.

According to the documents available with Daily Times, the plot number 21 allotted for Darul Shifa and plot number 25 allotted for Idara Taleemul Quran is currently under the use of the Global System of Integrated Studies School.

Similarly, the plot number 66, which was originally allotted for the Ambrose Hall School, is currently under the use of the Roots School System. Moreover, the plot number 67 allotted to the Sindh Peoples Welfare Trust is being “misused” by the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).

Furthermore, the Shifa International Hospital is using the plot number 76 – originally allotted to the Zain Zia Academy – as its car parking, whereas the Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University is also using a plot, which was originally allotted to Qari Khalilur Rehman.

“The plots in Sector H8 were allotted on feasibility bases and any other use of these plots came under nonconforming use according to their respective allotment letters and the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations (ILDR)

An officer of the authority while briefing about these plots has told this scribe: “The plots in sector H-8 were allotted on feasibility bases and any other use of these plots came under the non-conforming use according to their respective allotment letters and Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations, 2005, an officer of the authority told Daily Times.

“The owners got these plots on cheap rates due to their strong ties in the previous governments but later most of them either sold or rented out the to others, which was not allowed to them in any case,” he added.

On the other side, the documents show that plot number 95 and 97 have been encroached upon by the National Testing Service and the Lahore Grammar School, respectively.

The ICT Zoning Regulations 2005 state that any building found in violation of its allotment purpose shall be removed or converted into authorised use.

Under the law, a penalty can also be imposed on the owners of such properties and their plots are also liable to be cancelled if the owners refuse to act on the directives of the CDA.

CDA’s Member Estate Khushal Khan was contacted several times for his response but he was unavailable to respond.

Published in Daily Times, September 28^th 2017.