ISLAMABAD: Suspending an operation launched with full force against unregularised buildings in E-11 last week, the city managers on Thursday sealed a number of high-rise buildings in Sector B-17.

There were over 84 unauthorised buildings in E-11 but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) sealed only 40.

“Sealing unauthorised high-rise buildings in B-17 is a good step but why the civic agency left the E-11 operation halfway? This creates doubts about the operation,” said an officer, adding all unauthorised buildings in E-11 should have been sealed before starting an operation in other parts of the capital.

The CDA had announced that the operation in E-11 would continue till the sealing of all the buildings.

However, Director Building Control Shafi Marwat defended the action and said the operation in E-11 had almost completed.

“We have sealed 41 under-construction buildings and in a majority of other cases people are living on the premises and we do not want to harass them. We will seal the occupied buildings tactfully in coming days,” he said, adding the remaining few under-construction high-rise buildings in E-11 would be sealed in a few days.

Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz, who is also the acting CDA chairman, said owners involved in illegal construction activities in B-17 had been served with notices after which the operation was launched. The buildings which were sealed included Capital Square Plaza, Makka Heights, Rahat Mall and Zaka Mall.

A spokesman for the CDA said the civic agency was not only sealing illegal buildings but also formulating a strategy for taking action against people who did not seek the approval of their building plans from the CDA.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017