Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to prepare a policy to curtail ongoing exploitation of third party stakes by the developers of high rise buildings in Islamabad.

Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat also directed the civic body for imposition of restriction on selling flats and shops before the completion of building to any third party was also suggested by the members.

Committee meeting was held at Parliament House in the chair of Senator Talha Mehmood to discuss a nine point agenda mostly pertaining to the civic body including a detailed briefing on the policy to auction of plots.

“The authority sell its plots through open auction while the successful bidder has to submit first installment of its total premium within 72 hours after acceptance of bid whereas the whole payment is supposed to be submitted within one year,” the Mayor of Islamabad and Chairman CDA Shaikh Ansar Aziz briefed the committee.

While responding to a question regarding basic purpose behind selling of plots, the Chairman CDA said; “to meet the expenses of civic body and for the further development of city by construction of high rise buildings.”

In response, the chairman of the committee said, “You did not approve even a single map in last three years and telling us that the plots has been auction for development through construction of high rise buildings.”

Member Planning CDA Asad Mehboob Kiani responded, “Although, there were some delays in the approval of building plan, but now the authority is approving building plans on prompt bases.”

Senator Mir Yousaf Badini said, “The terms of allotment are different case to case which made disagreement between CDA and builders and the same reason is creating hurdles in vetting the building plans.” Senator Kalsoom Parveen said, “In most of the cases the civic body has changed the terms of allotment while several plots are still unconstructed.”

The committee conceived that a large number of plots are not being constructed and common people, who invested their savings in said projects are helpless while the builders and CDA are involved in their own tug of war.

However, while quoting the example of Grand Hyat, the Senator Talha Mehmood directed the Chairman CDA to prepare a policy in this regard and bar the developers from selling flats and shops before completing a considerable construction work on site as they are selling the properties in air.”

It is pertinent to mention here that a policy in this regard is quite necessary as after such policy will came into force, the builders would not be able to exploit third party stakes.

It is a routine in capital that builders purchased a plot on installments from CDA, prepare a map, build site office, start their bookings and sell the whole project even before the approval of their building plan from the civic body.

The committee also sought the details of all previously auctioned plots along with their building bylaws and the present situation of these plots on site.

On the other hand while discussing the agenda item regarding the qualification and mode of the appointment of a member in CDA board, the CADD secretary said, “Only federal government can appoint the board member in CDA however no specific qualifications for a member except member finance are written in CDA Ordinance, but disqualifications of a member are laid down in relevant law.”