ISLAMABAD: The engineering wing and other concerned departments of Capital Development Authority (CDA) were on Saturday directed to complete ongoing development works in new sectors within four months - a task which seems very tough keeping in view the civic agency’s record of sector development.

“An important meeting regarding sector development was held at CDA headquarters on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chairman CDA Chaudhary Muhammad Ali Randhawa,” said a statement.

It said the CDA chief was briefed on the ongoing development works in C-14, C-15, C-16, I-12 and E-12. He was told that 50pc development work had been completed in C-14 and C-15, 45pc in E-12 and 80pc in I-12.

“The CDA chairman directed that the ongoing development works in all the sectors should be completed in four months and all impediments hindering sector development should be removed so that the development works are not disturbed,” the statement said.

Says appointment of consultants for all projects should also be ensured

The CDA chairman directed that the development works in C-14 should be completed by September 2024 and the possession should be given to the allottees. Similarly, the construction work in I-12/3 and I-12/4 should be completed and handed over to the allottees within three months.

“Apart from this, payments should be made after the third party validation of the development works,” Mr Randhawa said. He said the appointment of consultants for all projects should also be ensured.

Commenting on the CDA chairman’s direction to complete ongoing development works, an officer said work continued in C-14 and I-12 at full pace and it could be completed in four months. However, until the issue of the affected people (those whose land had been acquired by CDA and who were entitled to get compensation in the shape of cash and plots) was resolved, no progress could be made on the development work in C-15 and E-12.

He said Built-up Property (BuP) award of the sector was announced in 2016, but the CDA did not issue plot allotment letters to the affected people. In the meanwhile, another BuP award was announced in 2023 without the issuance of allotment letters.

He said until the issue of the locals was settled, they will continue creating hindrances in the development work.

“Those who are genuine affected persons, they should be given their rights without any further delay and those who are trying to get compensation benefits fraudulently, action should be taken against them,” he said.

According to the officer, E-12 is a stigma on the performance of the civic agency as this sector was launched in 1989 and the same year the CDA sold around 4,000 plots to citizens with a commitment to provide them developed plots in a year. But, after 35 years, the development work in the sector remains incomplete. In the meeting, the chairman was told that 45pc work was completed in the sector.

Development work in C-16 has not properly been started. Last year, after starting partial work in one of the sub-sectors the CDA halted it as issues of land affected were undecided yet.

At present, the CDA has 13 acquired residential sectors and nine of them are stalled with no signs of development. In addition, there are nine other sectors that have not been acquired.

The CDA could not develop any new sector after D-12 which was completed in 2008. In 2005, the CDA launched I-15 and sold plots, but people are still waiting to get possession in the sector. However, work in this sector along with I-12 is near completion.

In 2008, the CDA through a land-sharing formula acquired several other sectors – D-13, E-13, F-13, H-16, C-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16. Out of them, development work is in progress only in C-14 and C-15 amid no signs of development in other sectors.

As per the city’s master plan, H-13, H-15, H-16, H-14, H-17, D-14, D-15 and D-16 are also supposed to be developed by the civic agency.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024