ISLAMABAD: Nearly a hundred guest houses are still operating in the capital’s residential areas, despite a ban on the nonconforming use of residential properties.

The Supreme Court ordered an end to all business activities in residential properties two years ago, after which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) closed down nearly a thousand clinics, media houses, offices and guest houses, more such small businesses are still operating in the city’s residential sectors.

According to a source in the CDA, the authority’s building control directorate has been lenient towards owners of guesthouses operating in the city.

“If one is to notice the pattern of operations against guest houses, it is haphazard. Two or three in one sector one day, and then one or two more in another sector.

‘Private schools in residential areas unlikely to close until provided alternative’

“Operations against guesthouses and other small businesses for the nonconforming use of residential properties should be carried out according to SC orders,” the source said.

Building Control Director Shafi Marwat conceded while talking to Dawn that nearly a hundred guest houses are still operating in residential areas, in violation of the law, in addition to hostels for men and women and a few media houses.

Mr Marwat said guest house owners have challenged the court order to shut down their businesses, arguing that they only provide bed and breakfast services and are not violating the law as such.

“Our problem has been that a law and order situation was created when the CDA conducted operations against guest houses in residential sectors in the past. During the operation earlier this year, tensions escalated, and even the local administration decided to back off,” he said.

He said the SC has accepted their appeal and decided to hear the case, which should be decided in about a month.

“This does not at all mean the CDA is lenient towards guest houses. The SC’s directions to close down commercial activities in residential sectors will be implemented fully,” Mr Marwat added.

Bilal Kazmi, a guesthouse owner in Islamabad, said guest houses provide residential services. He added that the “livelihoods of hundreds of families will be affected if guest houses are shut down, since they have nowhere else to move”.

Private schools

Mr Marwat also hinted that private schools will likely continue to operate in residential areas until an alternative is offered to them.

Unlike cafés and restaurants, which have shifted to commercial areas, schools have nowhere to shift their premises, Mr Marwat said.

“We cannot simply shut down private schools and jeopardise the future of over 60,000 children studying at these schools. Until an alternate is offered to private school owners, such as land to shift their campuses to, it might not be easy to close down schools that are [operating] in residential properties,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2017