ISLAMABAD: A new alleged scam has hit the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as a cinema plot was recently transferred in violations of rules and regulations.

The CDA had allotted a subsidised plot (number 6) for the cinema decades back in Sitara Market, G-7 Markaz.

The allottee of the plot ran the Kohsar Cinema there till around early 2000. Later, he gradually started using the property for commercial purposes and constructed dozens of shops on it in violations of the terms and conditions of the allotment letter.

Sources said that recently officials from the CDA Building Control Directorate and Estate Wing transferred the property despite having non-conforming use.

The sources said when the matter came into the notice of CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq, he ordered an inquiry.

They said without a Non Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Building Control Section (BSC) and a No Demand Certificate (NDC) issued by Estate Management, a commercial property cannot be transferred. However, in this case, before transferring the property the concerned department did not intimate about the non-conforming use. The sources said for the transfer of the cinema plot, the owner was supposed to remove the non-confirming use first.

“There are around three dozen commercial shops, but the alleged corrupt elements did not bother to have a look on the massive violations,” said an official.

Last Tuesday, when the matter came into notice of the CDA chief, he formed a five-member committee headed by Director General Works Habibullah Sheikh to probe it. The committee has started work.

Another official of the CDA said there was a need to check other NOCs and NDCs issued by the building control and BSC related to commercial buildings.

“I am surprised to know this. The officials of BCS, in case of violation of construction of a small washroom in a small house, give tough time to the people before transferring the property by saying that before transfer of the house the owner will have to demolish the washroom. But in this cases, they have ignored over three dozens shops,” he said and added that the matter should also be referred to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“This is one of the major scams in the CDA,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023