ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday declared the construction of Sindh House “illegal” and stopped its further extension, sources in the authority told Dawn. The sources said the CDA’s building control section took an action and stopped new construction in Sindh House.

“But when the CDA staff left the site, the work on the project was restarted,” they added.

The authority has issued a notice to the management of the Sindh House, directing it to stop new construction and get approval for the old building plan under the authority’s laws.

The authority has already announced that no extension would be allowed in Sindh House, and its management has been directed to pay the late approval charges along with the fine for illegal construction.

The CDA’s directorate concerned has started assessment of the fine to be imposed on the Sindh government in this regard, the sources said.

They said 25 acres were allotted to Sindh House in 1973, and in the same year, the site plan of the building was submitted to the Capital Development Authority for approval.

However, the authority had raised some objections and asked the Sindh government to rectify the site plan.

The sources said instead of rectifying the plan and getting CDA’s approval, Sindh authorities started construction of the building in 1974.