CDA moves against building rules’ violations
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched a campaign Wednesday against non-conforming use of land, encroachments and building violations in Islamabad’s residential areas, CDA Member EstateManagement Brig. Asad Munir said.
Addressing a news conference he said the Authority has completed a surveyaccording to which 325 offices, 87 guest houses, 4 restaurants and 255 schools were being run in the residential areas in defiance of a ban under the rules.
The rising cost and rental values of the property in the capital was encouraging the trend of non-conforming use of residential premises, he said. Brig. Munir said the CDA Deputy Commissioner would review all the cases and make recommendations to the Enforcement Wing which would implement them in letter and spirit. He said after issuance of notices strict action would be taken against those involved in any kind of breach in the zoning regulations.
Giving details of legal action against non-conforming use of residential plots he said as a first step the Authority would impose a fine of 10,000 rupees after which 500 rupees would be added daily to the penalty. If violators continued commercial use of residential plots the Authority would cancel the allotment three months after the issuance of notice, he said.
The owner of a plot would have to pay 2,000 rupees per square yard torestore allotment of plot along with written assurance that it would not be used for commercial purpose in future.
Foreign embassies in the residential areas are also being shifted to the diplomatic enclave, the official said.
A list of government offices set up in the residential areas has been sent to the Interior Ministry which would recommend appropriate action in this regard.
Henceforth no property could be transferred where owners committed buildingrules violations and an advertisement would be published in newspapers in this respect, Munir said. The CDA Enforcement Wing has started phase-wise removal of encroachments in the markets and traders association have been informed. The encroachments along drains and nullahs and other water courses would also be removed, the official said.