The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to take possession of amenity plots from private housing societies in Islamabad to prevent their misuse.
During a meeting on Wednesday, CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa directed the planning wing to create an inventory of amenity plots that had been transferred to the CDA, but where possession had not yet been taken.
Housing societies are required to transfer land designated for amenities, such as parks and schools, to the CDA to obtain a no-objection certificate. However, reports have emerged suggesting that some housing schemes are selling off these plots. In response, the CDA has decided to reclaim control over such plots transferred to its name, with the newly established Directorate of Estate Management III overseeing them. The goal is to ensure the proper use of amenity land.
There are 65 approved housing schemes in Islamabad, but several have yet to transfer amenity plots to the CDA. Additionally, over 100 unauthorized housing schemes are operating in the area. The meeting also addressed the recovery of dues from various housing societies and instructed the CDA’s planning wing to ensure compliance with regulations requiring housing societies to obtain CDA approval before transferring plots.
The CDA also plans to map unauthorized societies to assess whether they can be regularized according to the recommendations of the master plan commission. If not, appropriate action will be taken.
Following a federal cabinet decision in August 2021, a committee was formed to develop a policy for regularizing irregular housing schemes. Reports from the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice in 2016 had criticized the CDA and local authorities for the unchecked growth of illegal housing schemes and violations of approved layout plans by cooperative housing societies. These reports, adopted by both the Senate and CDA, have yet to be implemented.
The Senate had suggested that violations of layout plans by housing schemes be addressed through amended regulations, without compromising public parks. It also recommended acquiring adjacent land for public parks and cemeteries.
In the meeting, CDA’s planning wing confirmed that notices had already been issued for violations in private housing societies. Chairman Randhawa instructed that the survey process be expedited, and that satellite and Google imagery be used to monitor development activities. Strict action will be taken against housing societies that violate approved plans.
