ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), which is yet to make bylaws for commercial buildings along G.T. Road, on Friday got the work stopped on six unauthorised under-construction buildings there.

“CDA and Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) in connection with ongoing anti-encroachment drive conducted an operation along the right- of-way of G.T. Road Rawat. During the operation, they got work on several under-construction plazas in the vicinity stopped, besides demolishing new construction,” says a handout issued by CDA.

However, sources said that CDA has no bylaws in place to regulate buildings in the said area, as proposed bylaws are awaiting approval from the CDA board.

CDA yet to frame bylaws for commercial buildings along G.T. Road

The operation which was conducted by Enforcement Directorate along with ICT administration, Islamabad police, Building Control Section directorate of CDA dismantled shuttering of Jan plaza and Chaudhry Ijaz plaza while stopped the construction work. Similarly, glass work carried out on Alghani Mall was also dismantled.

Furthermore, shuttering and glass work on Amazon and Amazon-one was also dismantled.

When Dawn asked officials of Building Control Section, how CDA is conducting operation in the area, where it has no bylaws in place, the official said that they were not targeting the constructed plazas rather operations is being conducted against under-construction buildings.

“The proposed rules and bylaws are in final stages, which will be approved anytime by high-ups, meanwhile, we are taking action against under-construction buildings to stop at least new construction,” said an officer of CDA, who requested not to be named.

Last year a survey conducted by CDA had detected 340 illegal commercial buildings from Soan River Bridge to the Grand Trunk Road in Rawat.

These buildings were constructed without any permission from the CDA. But sources said the civic agency never implemented its building bylaws outside the sector area resulting in the mushroom growth of unauthorised buildings.

The survey showed that in Zone V, from Soan Bridge to the G.T. Road, there were 340 illegally constructed buildings, including 74 under construction.

In March 2017, the then CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz had decided to enforce the building by-laws across the capital in accordance with the CDA Ordinance 1960. Then process of making bylaws for the said area was started, which is yet to be approved by the CDA board.

Illegal commercial buildings have also been constructed in various parts of the capital, including E-11 and H-13, Park Road, Banigala, Bhara Kahu and Lehtrar Road.

Meanwhile, CDA demolished several constructions in sector G-6/2, 66 quarter katchi abadi and illegal constructions and encroachments along the Turbat Road in F-6.

GSIS School

CDA on Friday sealed GSIS school located in sector H-8 for non conforming use, source said.

“Since school was operating on a plot allotted for seminary so we have sealed it,” said director building control Faisal Naeem.

When asked about nine other plots allotted by CDA for seminaries in sector H-8, which are also being used other than allotted purpose, he said: “Last year, we sealed one of such buildings, and in coming days

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2019