ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is in a fix on how to move against powerful developers found to be violating rules and regulations and raising billions of rupees from the citizens.

According to documents (available with Dawn), the civic agency and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) jointly conducted a survey and found eight illegal housing societies in Zone IV in January this year.

The documents showed that the sponsors of the eight illegal housing schemes were repeatedly called to the NAB office on January 21, 27, 2015, and February 1, 2016, but none of them turned up.

Sponsors of housing societies in Zone IV ignored repeated calls to a meeting at NAB office

On February 22, the planning wing of the CDA wrote to the enforcement wing to seal the offices of the illegal housing schemes/agro-farms besides stopping the development activities under the provisions of the CDA ordinance 1960 and the ICT zoning regulations 1992.

However, so far no action has been taken as the CDA, according to sources, was afraid of the reaction from the influential operators of the housing schemes.

The illegal housing schemes whose operators did not show up at the meetings included Ghouri Gardens (East), Kiani Town, Lehtrar Road, Ittefaq Town, New University Town, near Comsats, Park Road, Shaheen Town, Arslan Town and Shaheen Farms.

“We had written a letter to the enforcement wing which recently wrote back to us seeking further information. What do you think sealing the offices of influential housing schemes, including one being run by a powerful tycoon, would be easy?” said an officer of the CDA who requested not to be named.

He said last year the civic agency had closed the offices of Ghouri Town but “we are still facing the consequence of our action,” the officer said, adding: “We sealed the offices and later the operators of the housing scheme reopened it.”

Another official of the CDA added: “What to talk of launching an operation against the housing schemes, there are several housing schemes whose operators have even encroached on the CDA land worth billions of rupees.”

The officer said the civic agency was unable to get its own land vacated from some of the influential housing developers.

The federal capital, which is otherwise considered to be one of the most planned cities of the world, has around 105 illegal housing schemes. A couple of months ago, the CDA informed a Senate standing committee that 105 illegal housing schemes were operating in Islamabad.

Documents handed over to the members of the committee showed that there were 16 illegal housing societies in Zone II, III and Sector E-11. In Zone IV, there were 60 illegal housing societies while 29 illegal housing societies were operating in Zone V.

When contacted, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid said: “Yes, it is true our planning and enforcement wings are corresponding with each other to start action against the eight housing schemes.”

He, however, denied that the civic agency was in a fix in initiating action against the violators. Asked whether the CDA would take action against all the eight housing schemes, including a scheme being run by an influential personality, he avoided a direct reply and said: “I don’t want to comment on a specific housing scheme rather would say action will be taken across the board.”

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2016