The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the survey of all Katchi Abadis in the federal capital and soon action to be taken against 14 illegal Katchi Abadis set up in various parts of the city. "Presently, there are 24 Katchi Abadis in the federal capital located in the various parts of the city, of which 14 are illegal and 10 are legal.
Following the directives of the court, the authority will soon start removing the illegal Katchi Abadis," Chairman CDA Maroof Afazal said, while speaking at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Wednesday. Rana Muhammad Hayat, Chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting, while MNA Mohiuddin Jameeli, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Rohan Din Junejo, Sajid Nawaz, Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, Syed Ali Raza Abidi and Muhammad Rehan Hashmi, the CDA chairman along other officials also attended the meeting.
Maroof Afzal further told the committee that the authority has also decided to take the action against owners of those houses being used for commercial purposes. "Presently, 2,200 housing units in the city are being used for commercial purposes," he said. He said that authority has issued notices to the owners of these 2,200 housing units and the action for the imposition of heavy fine and cancellation of their plots to be started soon.
He said that estimated population of Islamabad in year 2013 was approximately 1.37 million, whereas the total population of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is approximately over 2.78 million. "Due to the fast increase in population, the federal capital is currently facing shortage of 60,000 housing units," he said. Malik Abrar said that the authority has yet not compensated the affectees of sector D-12 and F-12 where Katchi Abadis have been established. "Since 1985 the affectees of sector D-12 and F-12 are ruining from pillar to post to get their compensation from the CDA, but of no use," he said. The CDA Chairman said that the CDA has to pay Rs 15 billion to Rs 20 billion dues to the affectees.