ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA’s) Building Control Section (BCS) is going to launch an operation in the suburbs of federal capital against non-conforming use of residential buildings. The section has prepared a list of those residential buildings, which are currently being used for commercial purposes in Model Town, Humak. The Model Town, Humak is a suburb rural area of the federal capital but falls under the jurisdiction of capital’s civic authority. Following the directions of the apex court, after a continuous campaign against non-conforming use of residential buildings, now the BCS of CDA is preparing to initiate an operation in Humak. The preparations are underway in this regard and the operation in the area is expected from next week. The BCS has initially prepared a list of 129 houses, which are being used for commercial purposes but the actual number are more than the list including some units that were missing by the authority to prepare the said list. The list contains 13 educational institutions, four hospitals, 11 hotels, four private banks, a post office and a large number of shops, officers, beauty parlours, showrooms, car parking and bus stands. An insider told Daily Times on the condition of anonymity that the Building Control Section director has initially approved nine buildings for sealing in first phase of the operation whereas around 17 building owners has already stopped the commercial activity in their premises. He further briefed, “We will gradually seal the premises and in first phase the educational institutions and hospitals would not be disturbed to avoid any inconvenience for masses.” An officer of Building Control Section (BCS) remarked on the decision, “Although, the operation against non-conforming use in suburb areas by the authority is a good move and it is the need of time, but it would affect the pace of ongoing operation in the urban areas of the capital city as the Building Control Section do not have enough manpower to open both fronts at the same time.” The sources inside the CDA’s Building Control Section has also cautioned that the Humak is a rural area and most of the people there belongs to local ‘Baradaris’. The operation in this area would not be the same like the operation against non-conforming use in residential areas of the urban city. He further apprehended, “It is also possible that the CDA will receive political pressure on this operation as the area falls in the constituency of the Capital Administration and Development Division State Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and he will not allow the authority to disturb his vote bank in the area.” An assistant director of the CDA Planning Wing said, “The launch of operation in the suburbs of main city is an effort to divert the attention of Supreme Court from non-conforming use in sectoral areas of the federal capital.” He further said, “Building Control Section has to submit a report on regular bases in the Supreme Court as they want to mention the numbers only.” He said, “The main issue of non-conforming use is related to posh areas of Islamabad, from where it was surfaced first. The building control section should first complete operation in the urban areas and then move towards rest of the areas.” While responding on the issue, the Building Control Section Director Shafih Marwat said, “We will do operation across the board without any discrimination of rural and urban areas as it is equal right of the people living in suburbs of the capital city to enjoy peaceful living”. He further clarified that there would be no decrease in the pace of operation in urban areas of Islamabad and CDA will continue operation in both the areas simultaneously.