ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to strictly ask owners of housing societies and schemes to implement the CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Zoning Regulation.

Offices of a number of illegal housing schemes and societies have been sealed. Islamabad was divided into five zones according to ICT Zoning Regulation 1992. Under the regulations, planning and development for housing schemes can be done in E-11 sector of Zone 1, a CDA official said.

Similarly, work could also be done in Zone 2 and 5. The CDA amended the zoning regulation in 2010 and allowed housing and agro-farm schemes in Zone 4, which was further divided into four sub-zones.

Two directorates of CDA regulate the housing schemes.

The department of housing is carrying out planning and development in housing Zone 2 and 5.

Whereas the official said the regional planning directorate regulated planning and development of Zone 4. The authority is also receiving suggestions to deal with illegal housing schemes.

A Few days ago, the CDA sealed the offices of illegal housing schemes, including Ayesha Town, Islamabad Cooperate Housing Scheme, Gulf Residencia, Royal City, Royal Residencia, Dream Land City, Babar Enclave, Ideal Residencia, Rawal Enclave and Yar Mohammad Society.

However, CDA was unable to plan any action against old housing societies, which have committed glaring violation of layout plans after getting no-objection certificates. In most of the cases, they have turned residential areas into commercial areas.

In some cases, the housing societies in the past converted playgrounds and parks into commercial centres but the CDA took no action.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2020