ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has directed the Bahria Town management to deposit commercialisation fee amounting to around Rs2 billion before getting the building plans from the civic agency.

The CDA’s planning wing, on August 29 last year, had conditionally approved layout plans of Bahria Paradise Commercial Scheme-IV located in Zone 5 of Islamabad. However, the housing scheme did not deposit the commercialisation charges. Subsequently, the CDA, on October 17, issued a letter to the said housing scheme, directing it to deposit Rs1.84 billion.

According to the letter issued by deputy director planning Abdul Haq Brohi, “Layout plans of Bahria Paradise Commercial Scheme-1, 2, 3 and 4 was approved by the authority…. on an area of measuring 250 kanal, 173.66 kanal, 226.91 kanal and 243.34 kanals having commercial area on 137.28 kanal, 73.19 kanal, 90.88 kanal, 104.66 kanal respectively.”

It said: “ As per clause 2 (b) of the approval letters, you were advised to submit the commercialisation charges @ Rs7,500 per sq yard of the saleable area (as per actual size of plot), through bank draft/pay order in favour of DDO- Planning, CDA, but the same has not been received till date.”

“You are once again advised to deposit the commerlisation charges,” the letter said. Last week, the issue was taken afresh when the CDA was approached for the approval of building plans.

“We have informed the management of the housing scheme in question that we can’t proceed further without getting commerlisation charges. So, they have been directed to deposit the fee,” a CDA director said.

He said the approval of building plan was conditional and it was linked with the submission of fee and fulfillment of several conditions, which is our common practice, he said.

“The management of Bahria is in touch with the CDA, hopefully they will soon deposit the fees to move forward,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024