ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has expedited its investigations into the mushroom growth of illegal housing societies in the capital, directing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to furnish records of officers who failed to take action against them.

Through a letter sent to the civic body a few days ago, the FIA Corporate Crime Circle said the agency was also conducting an inquiry against CDA officers who remained silent on the mushroom growth of illegal private housing societies in Islamabad.

The letter sought details of concerned formations along with relevant incumbents who were required to take action against illegal structures and housing schemes according to CDA’s regulations.

The letter also directed the CDA to provide zone-wise record of all structures/housing schemes declared illegal in accordance with Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Zoning Regulations.

The investigation agency also asked the CDA to furnish details of zone-wise list of all illegal structures and housing schemes regularised by the CDA during the last 10 years. It was also asked to provide details of the measures taken by the civic agency against the illegal housing schemes so far.

Asks CDA to provide record of officers who remained silent during their development

CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain confirmed to Dawn that the civic body had received the letter from the investigations agency a few days ago,

“We will provide the required information to FIA in due course of time,” he said, adding CDA has been taking steps against illegal housing schemes.

“Without completing all procedures, we do not issue no-objection certificates (NOC) to housing schemes. We also issue public notices in the media, informing the public not to invest in illegal housing schemes. Details of all illegal and legal housing schemes are available on our website for the general public,” he said and added that CDA also took strict actions against illegal housing schemes, including sealing of their offices.

During the last several decades, Islamabad saw a mushroom growth of illegal housing schemes. Currently, there are over 100 legal and illegal housing schemes.

Sources in the CDA said the civic agency could not curb the growth of illegal housing schemes as in most of the cases it kept itself restricted either to issuing notices or taking soft action.

The sources said Ghori Town, which is one of the largest housing schemes in Islamabad comprising eight phases, is an illegal society which was developed without facing any serious intervention by CDA during the last one decade. Many housing schemes also played with the CDA’s regulations as they just on the basis of approved layout plans launched schemes and sold plots.

These societies also sold out the plots and land reserved for parks, playgrounds, mosques, schools, etc.

The sources said as per the CDA regulations, no society could be launched without having an NOC but many societies sold out plots before getting the NOC. A few years ago, the civic agency linked new utility connections anywhere in Islamabad, including housing schemes, with a CDA certification.

Last year, the auditor general of Pakistan in its report also criticised the CDA for not taking action against illegal schemes.

The report of the audited year 2016-17 stated that instead of taking decisive action, the civic agency frequently issued warning notices to keep the general public aware. The report said the CDA suffered over Rs5,217 billion losses due to 109 illegal housing schemes.

The report said during the last 25 years (up to the audited year of 2016-17) only 19 NOCs were issued and 24 layout plans for housing schemes approved by the CDA for Zone 2, 4 and 5.

The report said the total area of the zones was 1,352,360 kanals whereas NOCs were obtained by housing schemes for only 91,611 kanals which means 93.2pc was illegal.

Losses were incurred due to this in various shapes, including non-imposition of penalties and fees.

The report added that in 98pc of approved and illegal societies, there were no sewage treatment plants, which is a requirement under Islamabad Capital Territory Zoning Regulations 1992.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2020