In compliance Supreme Court’s orders, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board decided to restore all Agro Farms to their original form and purpose according to the Agro Farms Scheme.
The covered area of the manager’s residence will now be 2,250 square feet without provision for compounding, while previously the permissible covered area was 12,500 square feet.
Additionally, 1,000 will be for office area, 500 for kitchen/canteen with toilet area, 500 for servants’ area, 500 for tractor/trolley room, 100 for guard room, i.e. a total area of 4,850 square feet.
Swimming pools, gazebos, ornamental landscaping elements and water features will not be allowed.
By-laws regarding minimum set-backs, boundary walls and poultry sheds will remain unchanged.
In the future, the lease period of Agro Farms will only be extended if in addition to compliance with applicable criteria, the covered area is within the above mentioned limits.
For this, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Building Control Directorate will have to be provided along with a lease period extension request.
Notices will be couriered to all transferees of Agro Farms to demolish excessive covered area within 45 days.
The official Gazette will also be notified of this decision.
The court noted that the increase in Agro Farms covered area in 2004 up to 10,000 square feet with compoundable area of 2,500 square feet. was arbitrary and in contradiction to the actual purpose of the Agro Farms Scheme
Up till now total 504 plots of Agro Farms in Islamabad had been allotted out of which buildings had been constructed on 350 plots. These farms were initially leased for 33 years. The lease period for 117 agro farms has expired and will only be extended subject to compliance with the new laws.
