Multiple offices sealed as CDA’s drive against commercial activities in residential areas continue

August 25, 2016

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Building Control Section seals guest houses, hostels, offices, schools and clinics in various sectors of Islamabad

In the latest episode of Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s campaign against commercial activities in residential areas, the authority has sealed 13 establishments which were conducting businesses in residential areas of Islamabad.

The operation was undertaken by Deputy Director Rahim-Ullah Bangash, CDA Building Control Section’s Assistant Director Ahsan and assisted by concerned Assistant Commissioner. CDA has been issuing notices and warnings pertaining to commercial activities in residential areas. Many establishments have moved their showrooms, shops, restaurants and schools to main markets or in sectors that don’t fall under CDA.

Yesterday alone, CDA sealed as many as 13 houses that were being used as software houses, service stations, security and property offices, schools, clinics, guest houses and boys hostels. Three guest houses were sealed in sector G-9 alone, Super Nova School is the only school situated on Park Road F-8 that was sealed. A security office, a service station and a software office were sealed in sector I-8.

“We won’t rest until we make sure that no commercial activities continue in residential areas. The campaign initiated earlier produced results. Many businesses moved to main markets and commercial areas. We started to vacate residential areas in phases. Most of the houses have been vacated. During the last phase, we’ll issue notices to schools. Hopefully, within a few months, the nonconforming use of houses and commercial activities in residential areas will come to an end,” said an official of CDA.

For decades, the restaurants, showrooms, shops and property businesses did their business in residential areas. The practice eventually started disturbing peace of the neighbours and finally towards the end of last year CDA started an operation against such activities that is still underway.