ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday sealed a house in a residential area of the Capital for being used for business activities.

The CDA and district administration officials, assisted by police, sealed house no 6 in Sector F-10/2. The place was being used as an outlet for selling household accessories in the name of second-hand goods.

The action was taken after a court declared the owner of the house guilty of violating Islamabad Residential Sector Zoning Regulation 1993 and issued orders for sealing the property.

A CDA source said some people were using houses in residential areas for commercial purposes on the pretext of selling second-hand household items. However, in reality, smuggled and new furniture, crockery, electronic appliances etc. are sold there, he added.

Meanwhile, the District Army Monitoring Team in charge, Brig Liaquat, has directed the staff of the CDA’s Building Control Cell (BCC) to immediately stop all businesses being run in residential buildings in the city and submit a report to him within a week.

In a briefing, Brig Liaquat was informed that according to a survey, 666 residential units had been identified in different areas of the Capital under the head of non-conforming use. It was also said 40 such violations had been dealt with accordingly.

A CDA official said a new section, headed by a deputy- director, had been established to deal with the issue. He said notices had been served on those running educational institutions, beauty parlours, rest houses, restaurants, show rooms, offices, shops etc. in residential units.

The notices stated hat it was severe violation of the Authority’s building by-laws that residential units were being used for commercial purposes.