ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the launch of four new residential schemes, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been working on the finalisation of layout plans (LOPs) for four residential sectors – D-13, E-13, F-13, and housing scheme in Kuri – in light of the topographic survey.

“We are working to finalise LOPs of four sectors that include D-13, E-13, F-13 and a housing scheme in Kuri,” said Member Planning Waseem Hayat Bajwa.

The LOPs of these sectors were prepared in the past, but without topographic surveys, he told Dawn.

According to the official, the CDA would hire a consultant for the Kuri scheme while the LOP work concerning the three sectors has been completed.

Civic agency to hire consultant for Kuri housing scheme

“Within a few days, we will hire the services of a consultant to finalise the LOP for the Kuri housing scheme within one month,” he said, adding that the finalised LOPs would be presented before the CDA board meeting for final approval. “Then, we will go ahead with the construction work,” he said and added that these four sectors have over 25,000 plots. The CDA is also set to launch C-13 and C-16 sectors, he added.

Talking about the Kuri housing project, he said the CDA had 20,000 kanals acquired in Kuri that had been lying vacant for decades. He said there was a dispute between locals and the CDA on 8,000 kanals, so the civic agency planned to prepare LOP on 12,000 kanals initially, leaving aside the disputed land.

It is relevant to note here, CDA had acquired land in Kuri decades ago but no steps were taken for the development of the residential scheme which was supposed to consist of over 3,200 acres in Kuri, Majohan and Rehala revenue estates in Zone IV.

CDA officials said the civic agency could construct four residential sectors if land issues were to be resolved and added that the total area was 3,200 acres while a single sector comprised 750 acres. The officials said the CDA had taken partial possession of the land for the development of Park Enclave but still most of the area was under “adverse possession”.

They said as per an initial survey, there were 1,100 occupants in the area but the number rose to 7,000 in 2011 as allegedly many “bogus cases” were added to the list of landowners by the CDA officials. This led to an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The inquiry cleared 3,422 ownership cases.

After the alleged scam of bogus lists, no serious effort was made to resolve the issue of built-up property claims and related issues. An official of the CDA said the built-up property award was announced in 1971 which was contested by the locals due to which possession of the land could not be taken. In 2009, the civic agency again announced a revised built-up property award but due to allegations of bogus claims the matter was deferred.

Similarly, the abovementioned three sectors – D-13, E-13 and F-13 – were acquired by the CDA in 2008. The CDA also made partial allotments in D-13 and E-13. CDA officials said that the incumbent chairman had directed the CDA to resolve the pending issues, which were hurdles in the development of sectors.

“In the past many such announcements were made, but the civic agency failed to translate them into reality. Let’s see what happens this time,” said an official. However, the member planning insisted that LOPs of all four sectors would be finalised and the construction would take off.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2023