- The practice of resizing big amenity plots into smaller commercial and residential ones rampant in newly developed sectors, societies of Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: The phenomenon of ‘China cutting’ where bigger plots are illegally turned into smaller ones for financial gains by land mafia is a relatively new phenomenon in Islamabad. However, even in influential suburbs like F-11, the attempts to create plots out of cricket ground dialled to awaken the city managers from their slumber.
Moreover, ‘China cutting’ in Sectors like E-11; by various private societies, in G-12; by locals and despite making countless headlines, the influential mafia backing the practice keeps on plaguing Islamabad.
The conversion of plots earmarked for parks, schools, parking and playgrounds are slowly vanishing and being turned into commercial and residential plots.
Started in April 2016, by then Capital Development Authority (CDA) acting chairman Shahrukh Nusrat, the exclusive task force to put an end to ‘China cutting’ proved to be just a ripple.
While the city manager’s direct to prevent attempts at Rawal Dam, the much anticipated across-the-board operation against those involved in such practice remains a pipe dream.
The ‘China cutting’ scandals surfaced in areas adjacent to Rawal Dam and sectors that are still being developed by CDA were thwarted after intervention by the Supreme Court and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Also, the former state minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Syed Khurshid Shah took multiple notices about the infamous practice but were futile too.
Having said that the aforementioned practice is not only limited to areas near Rawal Dam, as sectors G-13 and E-11 are also victims of the practice.
Since Sectors G-13 and E-11 don’t come under CDA’s jurisdiction the land grabbers and encroachers took advantage of the lack of regulation and building control. In these areas, many parks and playgrounds have been converted into residential or commercial plots.
It is pertinent to mention that sector E-11 has multiple private housing societies and each has its own infrastructure maintenance system in place.
Till date, a probe into the land swap matter in E-11 from the year 2009 to 2013 fearing massive violations and bringing to the fore the beneficiaries of these transactions remains unresolved.
