ISLAMABAD: Layout plans (LOPs) of three new residential sectors will likely be approved by Capital Development Authority (CDA) board today.

The CDA board headed by CDA chairman Noorul Amin Mengal will take up various agenda items, including approval of LOPs of sectors F-13, D-13 and E-13.

These sectors were acquired by CDA in 2008, but the civic agency could not get possession of the land, which delayed the development work. In past, the CDA had approved LOPs of these sectors without topographic surveys, leading to planning issues. According to the CDA officials, a couple of months ago it was decided to revise these LOPs with proper topographic surveys.

“We have revised the LOPs for three sectors and now these will be placed before the CDA board for final approval,” said a town planner. He said that the government and CDA management wanted to start the development work as soon as possible. “After approval of LOPs from the board, estate and land wings will start allotments to local landlords and the engineering wing will take steps to kick off the development work,” he said.

CDA board to approve Rs150 billion budget for FY24

The official further said that the CDA had acquired these sectors under the land-sharing formula. As per this arrangement, local landowners will be given a developed plot of one kanal against four kanal.

Another official of the CDA said that these sectors would have over 13,000 plots, including commercial areas. The official said the CDA would earn billions in revenue from these sectors. A senior official of the planning wing said that besides topographic surveys, the CDA also got satellite imagery for accurate data on the built-up property cases. “Frankly speaking, it was the failure of the CDA, as we acquired these sectors in 2008, but we failed to get possession of land,” he said and added that now development work will be started as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the CDA board would also approve brochures for the auction of dozens of plots for food outlets in the proposed Capital Street. This street would be set up in the Arts and Crafts Village near the 7th Avenue interchange.

The board will also approve the CDA budget for the financial year 2023-24. An official said that an Rs150 billion outlay is likely to be approved for development and non-development work.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2023