Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Building Control Department in its final survey regarding the farmhouses status revealed that 117 farmhouses among 540 are illegal and owners of these farmhouses will face heavy fines along with demolition of illegal construction, which is violating the laws of CDA.

The survey added that 117 farmhouses will be fined and will be regularised while 58 farmhouses will be demolished as they totally violate the rules and regulations of the civic body.

According to the by-laws of CDA, farms measuring 2.5 acres, five acres and 10 acres were allotted to people for the purpose of growing vegetables and poultry products for the local markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi but the owners of the 117 farmhouses not only exceed from their limitations but additionally they have done illegal constructions inside the farmhouses as well.

The features mentioned for farmhouses relating to different activities are that 80 percent of land will have to be brought under intensive vegetable farming.

After these farmhouses were found to be violating the laws, the Supreme Court took action as the CDA Building Department conducted a mega survey to identify the violators.

According to the survey statistics, a total of 540 farmhouses are operating in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in which 117 of these farmhouses will be fined Rs 7,000 per/square foot while the total fine will be Rs 1.84 billion. A total of 58 farmhouses will be demolished. The civic agency will submit its survey in the upcoming days in the Supreme Court of Pakistan for further action.

During the military regime of former president Pervez Musharraf, even the civic body bypassed its laws to allow the owners of farmhouses to construct lavish buildings.

Following the mushroom growth of illegal constructions, Chak Shahzad farmhouse scheme presents a complete and conspicuous violation of CDA bylaws where the ground realities are entirely different from the authority’s bylaws. The Chak Shahzad farmhouses are a symbol of property tycoons where the elite get residence since long. But the civic agency’s role is unsatisfactory.

According to the survey statistics, 117 farmhouses are active at this time in Chak Shahzad area of Islamabad in which 31 will bear a fine of Rs 490 million while 16 will be demolished.

On Murree Road, 152 farmhouses are operating, out of which 45 will bear fines worth Rs 236 million while 21 farmhouses will be demolished.

In H-9 Orchid Scheme, 12 farmhouses are operating at this time. Four of these will get fines of Rs 7 million while three of these farm houses will be demolished.

In Tarlai, there are 84 farmhouses. Thirteen of these will bear fines worth Rs 131.3 million and four will be demolished for violating the rules and regulations.

On Kahota Road, 79 farmhouses are operating at this time out of which nine will be fined worth Rs 160 million while seven farmhouses will be demolished for totally violating the rules and regulations.

In Sohana Extension, there are 97 farmhouses out of which 15 will bear fines worth Rs 220 million while seven will be demolished.

The survey stated that most of the farm houses are owned by politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and officials of CDA.

A source in the CDA informed that several farmhouses are owned by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior members and as well as by Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and their close relatives which were constructed during the government of PMLN.

CADD Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry remained unavailable for comment.

Published in Daily Times, October 26^th 2018.