Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The CDA consciously overlooked its own directorate and avoided action over non-confirming use of building in residential area as the Health Directorate of the authority is operating in the building reserved for a complaint inquiry in layout plan.

In compliance of strict directions issued by the Apex Court last year, the civic body had initiated a massive drive against the commercial activities in residential areas. The authority intently overlooked the Directorate of Health Services, which is working in the residential area of sector F-11/4 and situated at street number 58 on Service Road East. The building which is currently used for the office of Health Directorate was previously a complaint inquiry of CDA as per the approved layout plan.

The CDA inquiries are established in all sectors to run day to day affairs relating to CDA, but specifically for subject sector; whereas, holding and running of a full fledge directorate in inquiry office is meant that the people from across the city visit the office, which can cause serious nuisance for neighbours as in the case of said Health Directorate.

A resident of the area Dr Safdar Chaudhry said; “CDA has dual policy as it is shifting all commercial establishments from residential areas, but failed to stop illegal use of its own building”.

The CDA documents and maps available with the Daily Times reveals that there is no such permission or provision for the establishment of Health Services Directorate at the CDA inquiry office in Sector F-11 and the current use is totally against the purpose of the allotment of this plot. Holding of this office is directly contradictory with aforementioned section of the regulations.

The Director Building Control Section (BCS) Shafi Marwat, who has done a great job against no-conforming use in capital city has responded on the issue by saying; “the building of CDA inquiry is for the public service; whereas, the health directorate is also working for the public good.”

“Although, I think apparently there is nothing illegal, but we will revisit the case and if we found that the directorate is creating problems in residential area then we will give notice them to move it to another place as per law”, he added.

An officer in the civic body said on the condition of anonymity; “If we suppose for a second that the building is for public service and health directorate is working for the same purpose then another question is that the inquiry office is supposed to served one sector only, whereas, the Health Service Directorate deal the whole city.”

“Relevant formation should include the office in their list and make arrangements to shift it to another place,” he said rhetorically.