Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: To settle the dispute with bigwigs, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to enhance the covered area for construction in agro farms from 4,850 square feet to 10,000 square feet.

In past, around 610 agricultural plots were leased out to individuals and institutions for growing vegetables and fruits in eight suburban areas of Islamabad, including Chak Shahzad, Murree Road, Kahuta Road and Tarlai Kalan.

However, a survey conducted by the CDA a few years ago had found that 400 owners were using the land for the purpose other than the rules permitted and instead of growing fruits and vegetables, marriage halls and villas were being constructed on said farmlands.

Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken a suo motu notice over the violations of bylaws committed by the owners of agro farms. Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan referred this case back to the civic body for an amicable resolution.

A meeting in this regard with the stakeholders of Chak Shahzad farm houses was held in CDA headquarters under the chairmanship of Islamabad Mayor Shaikh Ansar Aziz. The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Chaudhry Rifat Javed, Member Planning and Design CDA Asad Mehboob Kiani, Member Estate CDA Khusal Khan, Legal Advisor CDA Hafiz Hifz-ur-Rehman and stakeholders including Waseem Sajjad, Salman Akram Raja and Shujat Azim.

After detail deliberations in the light of the Supreme Court’s directions, it was purposed by the participants that the covered area for construction of the houses, including owner’s residence, garage area for machinery and accommodation for the workers, in agro farms would be enhanced from 4,850 square feet to 10,000 square feet.

It was also decided that no permission whatsoever would be granted for additional covered area whereas violation and excess in covered area beyond the permissible limits would be demolished. The residents who had completed the construction and obtained a completion certificate from the civic body would not be affected by this decision, however, those who had obtained approval according to prevailing parameters and had not commenced the construction would resubmit their plans in accordance with the new policy.

As per the new policy, commercial or business activities such as wedding receptions or warehousing other than the agriculture activity would not be allowed in agro farms.

The CDA’s Directorate of Regional Planning has prepared a summary according to the aforementioned findings of the meeting, and the same was expected to be tabled in the next meeting of the CDA board.

People close to the developments criticised the move and said, “It is a move to favour the elite class, who first obtained these precocious lands on the name of agriculture and were now using them for residential or business purposes.”

When contacted, Islamabad Mayor and CDA Chairman Shaikh Ansar Aziz confirmed the development and said, “We are going to revise the bylaws as per the directions of the Supreme Court, while a handsome amount in the shape of revenue was also expected after a final decision in this regard.”

It is pertinent to mention here that most of the farmhouses are owned by the elite class, like politicians, generals and journalists, who have nothing to do with farming.