ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: The embassy of United Kingdom has sought additional land for extending its visa section, a source in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Dawn on Tuesday.

The source said British High Commissioner Mark Lyall Grand called on CDA Chairman Chaudhry Abdul Rauf and demanded allotment of additional land for extending the embassy building.

The CDA chairman asked him to submit a plan regarding extension of the building so that the case could be entertained.

The envoy praised the CDA’s planning for developing Islamabad on the pattern of modern and planned cities of the world.

However, a source in the CDA said the authority had violated the master plan of the capital as the existing diplomatic enclave was being extended to accommodate more foreign missions and residences of diplomats.

Sources said the diplomatic enclave was being extended to accommodate some 35 new and old foreign missions.

They said a green area located between Noorpur Shahan village and the diplomatic enclave was being included in the periphery of the enclave. However, there was no such provision in the master plan for inclusion of the area in it.

“The eastern side of the diplomatic enclave is under no use where over 35 foreign embassies can be accommodated,” an official of the CDA said.

In connection with the extension of the enclave, some officials of the Foreign Office have also approached the CDA office several times, asking for extension of the enclave, he added.

The Foreign Office had informed the CDA that diplomats were facing problems due to unavailability of adequate space in the enclave for their offices and residences, the official said.

Another source said the project of extension of the diplomatic enclave would affect the security plan being implemented in the diplomatic area.

Under the security plan, the entire enclave would be confined by erecting fences around it. But in case of an extension, the fences would have to be removed in some places causing wastage of money, the source feared.

The CDA official said a buffer zone between Noorpur Shahan and the diplomatic enclave would be included in the enclave’s limits. But for that purpose, the CDA has to take permission from the Foreign Office and the federal cabinet.

He agreed that according to the master plan, the CDA could not include the green area in the diplomatic enclave but once the government gave approval in this regard the CDA would start the extension work.