Islamabad: 800 residential units in commercial use in capital

[Naveed Yaseen]

Non-conforming use poses security threat to residents

Monday, October 26, 2009
Noor Aftab

Islamabad

Commercial offices of local and international organisations in the residential sectors pose a serious security threat to the residents who feel unsecured in the face of growing terrorist attacks.

The sources told ‘The News’ that a survey conducted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in recent past identified some 800 residential units being used for commercial purposes in violation of rules, including 255 schools, 27 government offices, 207 private firms, 18 embassies, four restaurants and 87 guesthouses.

A letter dispatched by The Network, a local non-governmental organisation, to the CDA chairman revealed that commercial activities are continuously increasing in some sectors including F-7, F-6, F-8, and G-6.

The letter also mentioned the offices of foreign organizations and missions including Unicef (main Margalla Road, F-8), UNDP (F-7 near Jinnah Super Market), Froebels International School (F-7), Pak-Turk School (G-10), SACH (I-8), Save the Children (UK) (F-10), Embassy of Turkmenistan (F-7), Embassy of Sweden (F-6) and Tajikistan mission in F-10.

The dwellers of the houses in close vicinity to the foreign embassies and missions have to suffer constantly due to security arrangements being made to avoid any terrorist attack. “The presence of foreign missions and offices of international companies has now become a matter of grave concern for the residents as several terrorist attacks have already been carried out,” said Rukhsana Qayyum, a resident of Sector F-7.

The law clearly mentions that any building or structure that is not permitted under the law shall either be removed or converted into a building or structure designed or intended for a use authorised or permitted under this regulation. The law penalizes the owner and the occupant of the building with heavy fines and dispossession. Moreover, the allotment of the plot may also be cancelled.

The limit of fine for violation was increased to Rs3,000 per square yards of built area from the previous Rs100, to Rs5,000 from Rs500 per day for continued violation, and to Rs5 million from Rs10,000 for first conviction.

The schools and hostels situated in residential areas not only increase pressure over the civic facilities provided in the area, but also produce hurdles in the mobility of vehicular traffic as hundreds of vehicles enter and leave the area during the times of opening and closing.

“The international organizations pay high rent to owners due to which they prefer to provide their residential units to them. The rents have increased to the extent where it is simply unaffordable for most of the local people to hire residential units in these sectors,” said Nazir Hussain, a resident of Sector F-6. The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior also directed the CDA to ensure early action against non-conforming use of residential units in the capital city but the needful has yet to be done.

The spokesman of CDA told ‘The News’ that notices are being issued to the owners involved in carrying out commercial activities in residential units. “If owners continue to allow their residential units for commercial purposes then their cases are referred to deputy commissioner of CDA who examines the situation and takes necessary steps,” he said.

He said when owners secure stay order from the court then CDA has to wait until it gives its decision. Any owner who wants to transfer his property to any other person now has to obtain non-objection certificate (NoC) from the CDA that ensures before issuance of NoC that his/her residential unit is not being used for commercial purposes, he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205250