ISLAMABAD: The number of guest houses has increased despite the ban on non-conforming use of residential properties, from roughly 100 last year to 120 now.

A senior Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said the delayed and selective action by the civic body has emboldened even those guest house owners who had closed down their illegal businesses, fearing that a court order may ask them to end the non-conforming use of their residential buildings.

About three years ago, Supreme Court had ordered that all commercial activities be terminated in residential properties.

CDA’s Building Control Directorate continues to be lenient towards guest house owners, claims civic body official

After this, CDA closed down nearly 1,000 businesses including clinics, media houses, offices and guest houses.

According to the CDA official Dawn talked to, the authority’s Building Control Directorate continues to be lenient towards guest house owners.

Last year in July, CDA Member Planning Asad Kayani had told Dawn that a survey had been conducted of the number of illegal guest houses in the city.

He had said guest houses are not operating openly and that CDA often sends in teams to conduct operations against the illegal use of residential property for commercial use. However it is not easy to find such businesses.

CDA Director Building Control confirmed that the number of guest houses have increased to 120, according to a fresh survey.

He said the CDA had launched an operation against these guest houses which was stopped on the advice of the legal team.

“Our legal team said that the wording of the interim orders from the court was not clear and that this can land the CDA into trouble. However, two weeks ago, the legal team gave a go ahead to take necessary action,” he said.

The official said his office had published public notices against commercial activities in residential areas.

“The first raid was conducted on two guest houses in F-7. One was recently renovated and was ready to open. In the coming week, CDA will conduct fresh raids in other sectors,” Mr Naeem added.

He said his office has the support of the district administration after the assistant commissioner was taken on board.

“Guest houses have been operating in Islamabad for the last 25 or 30 years. The owners tend to get aggressive or violent. The police escort will take care of that problem,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2018