I-8 sector: 200 plots given to CDA officers

ISLAMABAD, June 21: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) recently doled out 200 plots to its deputationists and other officers in the city’s prime I-8 sector.

This allegation came from the general secretary of Collective Bargain Agent (CBA), Chaudhry Yaseen, at a press conference on Thursday.

He said the high-ups of the civic agency had held several meetings at Convention Centre and Islamabad Club before allotting the plots worth over Rs4 billion about a fortnight ago.

He said his union had been demanding allotment of plots to retired and in-service employees working in the organisation for over 10 years but the management never bothered to entertain them.

It may be noted that under the rules, residential plots in a developed sector cannot be allotted to anyone as they are for sale through open auctions.

Mr Yaseen appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the allotments and ensure a uniform policy for officers and employees in the civic agency. He said I-8 was one of the most costly sectors and the plots could have been sold through open auctions to earn handful amount of money for the cash-strapped CDA.

“If the management does not cancel the allotments, we will have no option but to start a protest movement,” warned the union leader.

When contacted, Chairman CDA Farkhand Iqbal said he was not aware of allotment of any plot to the CDA officers because he was out of the country recently. However, he said he would seek an explanation from the department concerned and cancel the allotments.

An officer, requesting not to be quoted, said high-ups of the CDA were trying to get plots in Sector I-8 because of its prime location. In 2007, during the tenure of then chairman Kamran Lashari, the depot of government transport service in the same sector was converted into residential plots and 400 plots were allotted in a single day.

“Now once again the officers have been allotted the plots in the sector because they can be sold on attractive rates,” he said.[/align]