KARACHI, Aug 15: The Defence Housing Authority has set up a central control cell to help and guide residents and applicants in completion of all formalities involved in the process of approval of building plans for the construction of houses in the DHA.

The control cell has already started functioning, according to a DHA statement issued on Wednesday.

The cell has been established on the instructions of Commander Corps V Lt-Gen Mohammad Ijaz Chaudry, who is also the president of the executive board of the DHA, the statement said.

At the control cell the representatives of the DHA, the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) and the military estate office (MEO) involved in the process of building plan approval will sit together under one roof to help residents in completion of all formalities.

One window operation will provide help to residents and curtail the processing time to half, it has been said.

The central control building is located at the front entrance to the main office complex of the Defence Housing Authority in Phase-I.

At the central control cell there are separate counters for DHA, CBC and MEO representatives. The three organisations work in complete unison and co-ordination to speed up the entire process. The system is fully computerised and will be monitored at the highest level to ensure transparency and smooth working of the process.

A team of dedicated staff under a manager is available at the centre to guide the residents, the statement said, adding that the cell would monitor every case from the beginning till the end through each processing stage.

The cell is open from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4pm.

Director of the cell Brig Hassan Raza asked residents to visit the cell in person for their cases. He also advised the residents to preferably employ authorised architects for smooth and hassle-free processing of their cases.

All required forms and documents can be downloaded from DHAs website www.dhakarachi.org.

The three agencies — the DHA, CBC and MEO — are involved in the process of a building plan approval.

The process includes issue of a site plan by (town planning and building control) TP&BC directorate of DHA, Execution of A Lease by the DHA lease department, submission of building plan at the central control cell, issue of a demarcation letter by TP&BC directorate of DHA and issue of NOCs by the DHA and the CBC at various stages of construction of a house.

After completing the construction of a house/building the allotee/transferee submits a completion plan at the DHA for obtaining an approval and occupancy certificate.

The B and C leases of 99 years are subsequently executed between MEO, DHA and the allotees/transferees, giving the owner the legal right of ownership, the statement said.—PPI