The top court on Wednesday asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ensure withdrawal of a summary requesting the Prime Minister for the conversion of National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) land into a housing scheme. Appearing before a three-member bench of the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali in the matter, the CDA counsel submitted that the summary would be tabled before the CDA Board meeting upon return of the CDA chairman from abroad.
It is pertinent to mention that the NARC was allotted 1395.2 acres of land for agriculture research in 1975 but the CDA has submitted a summary about conversion of the NARC land into a housing scheme during last year to the Prime Minster for approval.
Some officers of the NARC challenged the possible conversion of the land into housing scheme before the apex court saying that research is carried out at the NARC with international institutions to promote agriculture in the country. Accepting their plea, the Supreme Court had stayed the conversion process and sought response from the federal government and the CDA in the matter with an observation that the land was not personal property of the CDA.
During the course of proceedings, the CDA counsel told the bench that summary withdrawal matter was not taken on the CDA Board meeting agenda previously, however, soon after the return of the chairman CDA from abroad the matter would be referred to the meeting for approval. However, the bench issued directives to the CDA to withdraw the summary and submit a report during next hearing before the court. Hearing of the matter was adjourned till May 25.
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