ISLAMABAD
In spite of increasing security threats the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration is unable to take action against several house owners who are using their houses for commercial purposes. This act is not only a blatant violation of building by-laws, but also creates serious security problems.
“The illegal use of residential houses not only increasing house shortage but also creates security problems, as most of these housing units are used as guesthouses or restaurants,” a senior official said.
He said that the owners of many of these residential units are committing this violation with the involvement of CDA and ICT officials. Both the CDA and ICT have taken no action against the commercial use of residential units so far.
The official added that the CDA’s relevant directorate has only issued notices to these violators so far. No further action has been taken, despite the CDA Deputy Commissioner (DC) having imposed a Rs 500,000 fine on every violator and directed CDA officials to collect the fine within 20 days.
According to the CDA policy prepared for the non-conforming use of housing units, when a violator fails to submit the fine within 20 days the relevant directorate would refer the case to s senior special magistrate, but the CDA have yet not sent a single case to the magistrate, though violations over 20 days have occurred.
He added that according to a survey conducted by the CDA’s Building Control Structure (BCS) directorate around 791 houses are being used for commercial purposes in the residential areas of Islamabad. Out of 791 houses, 325 are being used as offices of various organizations, 87 as guesthouses, 4 as restaurants, 255 as schools and 124 as beauty parlors.
He said that under the Islamabad Residential Sectors Zoning Regulation 2005 there was a ban on the non-conforming use of residential houses in the capital and according to the regulation, if the owner continued to violate the law, the allotment of his plot can be cancelled.
