Islamabad: CDA approves Rs 52m for new sectors

By Fazal Sher – ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved Rs 52 million for the acquisition of land for launching 10 new sectors though development work on several sectors launched over a decade ago has not been completed so far. A senior CDA official told Daily Times that new sectors included C-13, 14, 15, 16, D-13, F-13, 14, E-13, I-17 and H-16. However, he said, the authority could not complete development work on sectors D-12, G-12, I-14 and I-16, which were launched over 10 years ago. “The CDA has also failed to hire a contractor for Sector I-15 launched two years ago,” the official said.He said the CDA and inter-ministerial committee had approved launching the new sectors a year ago and around 110 new employees were appointed in the CDA Land Directorate to prepare land record of those sectors. The CDA’s failure to complete development work on the already launched sectors was adding to housing problem in the federal capital, he said.

The civic body had also failed to compensate the affected people of the sectors launched earlier, he said. These people were to be adjusted in Sector I-14 but till now the CDA could not develop the sector creating problems for the affected people as well as the contractor.

The CDA official said currently the federal capital was facing a shortage of 40,000 housing units, which had inflated estate prices. “The existing number of houses in Islamabad is 70,000 while another 110,000 housing units are required, he added.

CDA Land Director Asadullah Faiz told Daily Times the civic body had completed most of the documentary work on the new sectors and would soon start land acquisition process. “The authority will acquire land for these sectors under the Land Sharing Formula. Under this formula, the CDA will return one-fourth of the acquired land to the affected people free of cost instead of compensating them,” he added.

He said development work on the already launched sectors would be completed soon.