ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday sealed 78 premises, including multi-storey buildings, real estate offices, construction material depots and several under-construction structures.

The action was taken during a major operation launched against violations of building bylaws and zoning regulations.

The civic agency advised citizens to consult the CDA before purchasing any flat, house, building and shop as a large number of buildings have been constructed without obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs) and can be sealed or demolished.

CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain told Dawn that a number of housing societies had been developed without getting NOCs from the civic agency.

“Not only some societies are illegal due to which every construction and plot there are illegal but also in some cases even legal housing societies have raised a number of constructions without getting an NOC. We have published public notices many times in newspapers informing the general public that they should avoid investing in illegal projects,” he said.

“Time to time we issue notices to such projects and finally they are sealed as CDA cannot allow illegal constructions in the federal capital. We suggest the citizens to consult the CDA before investing in such projects as the civic agency will not be responsible for their losses,” he said.

Mr Hussain said people should ask the CDA before purchasing plots in private housing societies as even plots can be illegal or outside the area of the society.

A senior official of the CDA, requesting not to be quoted, said the zonal regulations were introduced in 1992 under which the federal capital was divided into five zones.

“It was decided that Zone I will be allocated for the CDA projects. Residential projects or housing societies were allowed in Zone II and V. There will be no housing projects in Zone III while Zone IV was for agro-farming and educational institutions. But in 2007, the Supreme Court directed to change the bylaws for Zone IV due to which in 2010 it was divided into four sub-zones and some residential projects were allowed there,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said though the zoning regulation was very clear about projects, unfortunately not only over the years illegal housing societies were developed there but legal housing societies also started violating their approved layout plans.

“Some societies converted areas meant for parks, playgrounds or graveyards into plots and sold them. CDA has registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against such housing societies which are located in Zone II, V and Sector E-11,” he said.

According to an official statement, the CDA conducted a major operation against violations of building bylaws and zoning regulations.

The illegal premises were sealed in all phases of Ghori Town, Rahman Residencia, Green Garcia by Green Spire, Green Nest and Marwa Town.

The statement said some elements tried to halt the operation but the capital administration handled the situation and the operation was completed.

“CDA will continue to take action against violations of building bylaws and zoning regulations in days to come,” the statement added.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020