ISLAMABAD: As the civic agency failed to launch any housing scheme for decades, living in the capital city has become almost impossible for the middle class.

While the population of the capital increased to over 20 million, the city is expanding with the construction of even unauthorised housing units and other buildings.

Currently, 17 sectors are stalled because of the negligence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) resulting in the extreme shortage of affordable housing for the citizens.

Possession of land is a major reason for non-development of sectors, says official

According to CDA documents, almost 50,000 plots were planned in these sectors. In the absence of affordable housing units, over 100 legal and illegal housing societies have cropped up in Islamabad while its rural areas have also witnessed a mushroom growth of development.

Recently, a survey was conducted on the direction of CDA Chairman Usman Akhtar Bajwa to know the reasons behind the stalemate of the residential sectors. Sources in the CDA told Dawn that the CDA chief was provided details about the 17 sectors.

The list of the stalled sectors included E-12 where the civic agency sold out plots in the late 80s but could not give possession of the developed plots to the allotees.

According to the list, the other stalled sectors are: C-13,C-14, C-15, C-16, D-13, E-13, F-13, H-16, I-17, I-11, I-12, 1-14, I-15, Kuri Model Village, Park Enclave II and Chatta Bakhtawar.

The land award for C-13 was announced in 2008 and the sector spread over 745 kanals and seven marlas. The development of the sector is facing a delay due to pending allotment against land sharing and acquisition of the built-up property (BUP). Its layout plan is also yet to be prepared.

The land award for C-14 (1,550 kanals) and C-15 (3,261 kanals) was announced in 2008 but so far the civic agency could not complete the process of allotting plots to locals against their land and BUP claims.

Whereas C-16, D-13, E-13 and F-13, whose land awards were announced in 2008, are also facing several issues such as incomplete allotments against land sharing and BUP acquisition etc.

Land awards for H-16, 17 and I-11 were announced in 2009 but so far the civic agency has not paid compensation to the locals.

Recently, the CDA decided that after acquiring I-17 the entire sector would be allotted to an army-run university for the setting up of a medical city.

The land awards for I-11, 1-12, 1-14 and I-15 were announced in 1968-69 but because of different reasons these sectors could not be developed.

“The development work in I-11/1 and I-11/2, comprising residential plots, is yet to be completed. The rest of sectors meant for wholesale markets is already developed and allotted,” said the documents.

The development work in 1-12 could not be started because of a survey problem while I-14 is almost developed but services such as gas are yet to be provided. The service roads north and east are also not developed in I-14.”

Sector I-15, launched by the CDA in 2005 for the middle and lower middle class, is also an example of the negligence of the civic agency as despite having possession of the land the development is yet to be started. In this sector, 10,289 plots were allotted.

Rehabilitation benefits are yet to be released against land and BUP and as a result the development of the Kuri Model Village is also pending.

The development work on Park Enclave II could not be started because of the land possession issue while in Chatta Bakhtawar scheme the rehabilitation benefits are yet to be released for the BUP.

Member Engineering Shahid Sohail told Dawn that the possession of land was one of the major reasons behind the non-development of the sectors.

“The sectors in question should have been developed but there are several pending issues pertaining to the land,” he said.

The sources said the civic agency was not facing any serious issue regarding the possession of land in at least 1-12 and I-15 sectors.

“I admit that we have failed to ensure affordable housing facilities. With little efforts we could start development work on I-12 and 1-15 where there is no major land possession issue,” said an official of the land directorate.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2018