Illegal construction in Sector G-12 continues as CDA naps

Author: By Farid Sabri

ISLAMABAD: The construction work at Sector G-12 is in full swing as marriage halls, multi-storey plazas, shops and houses are almost nearing completion and the land mafia is taking advantage of the past history of the sectors. The CDA is reluctant to take action in these sectors.

According to the official record, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) acquired the sector back in 1985, however, the locals refused to give possession, as they found the compensation money insufficient.

Since then, there is a bar on the sale and purchase of land at the sector. At present many businessmen and property dealers are selling and purchasing the land at these sectors.

The sale and purchase is being done without the lawful transfer of title, allocation of a plot on the map and registry that is usually the norm in the capital.

Sector G-12, a long disputed sector of Islamabad for many years is seeing infrastructure development. One can witness the development while entering or leaving Islamabad along the Kashmir Highway. Dozens of shops, marriage halls, marquees, showrooms can be spotted along the borders of G-12.

”The CDA acquired the land of many sectors from locals who have been living here for generations. I remember when we moved to G-11 back in the mid 90’s, there was a full-fledge village here, but then in the early 2000s they gave compensation to the dwellers and acquired the land from them. If this can be done everywhere then why not G-12. It is about time that the high-ups find an amicable solution to the problem and curb the illegal constructions at the sector,” said Shams Raza, a resident and chartered accountant of G-11.

Sector G-12 has a long and violent history. Since the early 90s the administration and the CDA, with help of the police tried to vacate the land from its natives, but all such attempts met serious resistance from the residents of the locality.

The land of the other sectors of the G belt, G-14 and G-15 was acquired, demarcated, sold and is presently inhabited by thousands of families.

When contacted, the Director for the Building Control Section (BCS), Shafi Marwat, said that the civic agency was consistently trying to demolish the encroachments across the capital. But, unfortunately due to the higher influence of the citizens and the authorities, illegal constructions had been seen in the federal capital. The BCS was trying its best to sought out this problem.