ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Wednesday sealed several highrise buildings in E-11.

The CDA’s Building Control Directorate sealed 18 highrises of eight building projects including Capital Residentia, a project launched by chairman Associations of Builders and Developers, Arif Jeewa.

The civic agency has just recently started paying attention to E-11 which contains 84 unauthorised highrise buildings and sealed the 18 buildings on Wednesday in the first phase of its operation.

All these buildings did not have an approved building plan or a no-objection certificate from the CDA.

Director Building Control-II Shafi Marwat led the operation and was accompanied by officials of the Enforcement Building Control, other concerned formations and police officers.

Eight buildings of Capital Residentia were sealed, all of which were 16 to 18 storeys high.

The other buildings which were sealed include two 11-storey buildings of Makkah Towers, Ahad Residence, eight storeys of the Fenarina Residence, Madina Towers, Margalla Residentia, Umair Residentia, Shaheen Apartments and the illegal extensions to Khudadad Heights, a project of former PML-N MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan.

“We will continue the operation till all 84 unauthorised highrise buildings in E-11 are sealed,” Mr Marwat said.

Acting CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz said unauthorised construction in E-11 will not be tolerated anymore and that no one will be allowed to damage the beauty and symmetry of the federal capital.

“It will be ensured that the CDA zoning regulations are implemented,” he said, adding that strict action will be taken against the violators in order to curtail haphazard construction around the city.

A team of the enforcement wing led by Member Estate Khushal Khan also removed encroachments made by the Marriott Hotel on a plot measuring 3.75 acres.

The plot on which the hotel had encroached is meant for the construction of a five-star hotel and is next to Marriott Hotel, says a CDA press release.

Four sheds, several barriers and 12 structures constructed for the guards at the hotel were demolished, CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussein said.

The CDA also removed several cemented blocks placed by the management of Marriott Hotel in front its building on main road.

The management of the hotel, however, termed the action of the CDA unjustified.

“We strongly dispute the action by CDA. Due to security issues and serious threats that Islamabad Marriott Hotel, and many other hotels in Pakistan, face, security measures are in place in coordination with the CDA and security agencies,” read a press release issued by the hotel. It said that Marriott Hotel was not just a hotel, but home for many guests who visit Pakistan, invest in Pakistan, and contribute to the growth of Pakistan. The actions of CDA at Marriott Islamabad are in contradiction to the advice of the high court, the press release added.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017