ISLAMABAD, June 11: The Capital Development Authority on Tuesday said it had not approved of the Bahria Town’s project Bahria Enclave-II, and had not issued the No Objection Certificate (NOC).

“Bahria Town’s Bahria Enclave-II has not been approved by the CDA, and we have issued a public notice in this regard so that potential buyers are warned,” Chairman CDA Syed Tahir Shahbaz told Dawn.

According to the CDA Ordinance, one cannot start a housing society without the planning approval of the CDA. “We will work according to the rules, and have taken the step in the best interest of the public,” the chairman said.

The authority, in its public notice published on Tuesday, said, “The CDA has not issued an NOC to the housing scheme named Bahria Enclave-II, Phase-II located in Mouza Pulgran, Anguri Road, Zone-IV, Islamabad and sponsored by the Bahria Town Private Limited.”

An official of the CDA said the management of Bahria Town had started Bahria Enclave as its main project in July 2011, and had sold plots to potential buyers. It started the extension of Bahria Enclave a few weeks back, which is on an area of almost 1,180 kanals having over 362 residential plots.

“The sale of the plots in the new project has recently started,” claimed the official.

However, the CDA, in its notice, has warned the public to refrain from purchasing any land in the scheme till the Bahria Town management obtained an NOC from the CDA after fulfilling the formalities.

The notice also cautioned potential buyers to check the legal status of the scheme before making an investment, adding that in case of any fraud or loss, the civic body would not be responsible.

The authority also asked Bahria Town Private Limited to stop publicity, marketing and sale of plots and development work at the new project.

The public notice stated that the CDA had granted approval of private housing schemes and agro farming schemes in selected areas of Zone-IV of Islamabad, which consists of the area between Murree Road (near Bara Kahu bridge) and the Islamabad Expressway.

However, the authority had a two-tier approval procedure for this: the layout plans had to be approved and an NOC had to be obtained from the CDA. The monitoring of the development schemes would also be done by the CDA, the notice added.

An official of the cabinet division, which has the administrative control of the CDA, said the notice was issued to Bahria Town after approval from senior politicians of the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

“We have given a go ahead to the CDA’s management to issue the public notice because the PML-N leadership believes everything should be done on merit,” the official said.

Despite multiple attempts, no official of Bahria Town was available for comments.