ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued notices to owners of economy flats at F-11 for being used without getting the mandatory completion certificates.

“The notices have been served on Safa Heights, Golden Heights, Tariq Heights, Sughrah Towers, Karakoram and Abu Dhabi Towers in F-11. Owners of these buildings have also illegally constructed residential flats in basements which is sheer violation of CDA building bylaws. As per the bylaws, basements should be used for parking only,” said a statement issued by the civic authority on Sunday.

Sources in the CDA said Abu Dhabi Towers was the only apartment building which had the completion certificate. But later it came to the notice of the civic authority that flats had been built in the basement of the building.

The other apartment buildings have no completion certificates that deal with fire and safety arrangements, implementation of building plans and structure soundness.

The CDA had sold out 30 plots in urban areas such as F-11, G-11, F-10 and G-8 for construction of apartments but their owners after completing the buildings, apparently in connivance with CDA officials, occupied them without getting the completion certificates. Margalla Tower in F-10, which collapsed in the 2005 earthquake killing 70 people, was one of the buildings which had no completion certificates.

There are also dozens of apartment buildings in rural areas which have been constructed without CDA’s involvement.

“In rural areas, even building plans were not approved by the CDA what to talk of the completion certificates,” said an official of the CDA.

On the other hand, CDA still keeps itself restricted only to issuing notices.A statement issued by the CDA on Sunday said during a recent survey conducted by the building control directorate for compiling data of commercial buildings, it was indicated that the basements of these flat were being used for residential purposes.

“Taking action, notices have been served on the owners of these premises wherein they have been directed for immediate removal of the violations failing which the authority will take action to remove these violations,” the statement said.

“CDA management has directed action against the consistent violators and removal of violations will be ensured so that residents of the economy flats could be provided parking facility in the buildings.”

When asked what about other apartment buildings operating outside F-11, an officer of the CDA said notices had already been issued to almost all buildings.

An official of the civic agency, however, said notices were not a solution to resolve the problems and there was a need for a proper audit as so far how many notices have been issued and what actions have been taken.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2020