ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making a law under which an owner will have to clear all utility bills before selling a commercial or residential unit in Islamabad, a well-informed source told Dawn on Sunday.

The source said the CDA had been constantly receiving complaints that some people did not clear their utility bills before selling their commercial and residential units to others. As a result, the buyers have to face difficulties and pay the bills. Sometimes, they have to face hardships even in getting new connections of gas, electricity and telephone.

The source said that a good number of people had taken the matter to courts of law stating they should not be forced to pay the bills of utilities, which they had not consumed. Several cases were still pending in various courts, he added.

Under the proposed law, it will be obligatory for the owner to obtain an NOC from the CDA before disposing off his property.

He said the CDA would issue NOC only after getting clearance certificates from PTCL, Sui Northern Gas Supply Lines (SNGPL) and Iesco.