Islamabad: NAB keeping nine housing societies under watch

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated inquiry against nine private and cooperative housing schemes in the capital city that were approved by a senior official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), who is currently under suspension for alleged corruption, sources told Dawn.

The sources said CDA’s Deputy Director-General (Planning) Mohammad Iqbal Noori had favoured these housing schemes to have some personal gains.

However, Director Housing Societies Sarwar Sindhu said few of the schemes approved by the accused deputy director-general had addressed most of the irregularities and purchased required land. But few are still not meeting the laws of the CDA and cooperative department of the local administration, he added.

The housing schemes being scrutinised by NAB are:

New Islamabad Gardens that is being developed by Capital Builders on 800 kanals in Sector C-17. The CDA had issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the scheme, but it was withdrawn after it failed to purchase the required land and did not follow the prescribed rules.

RP Corporation Housing Scheme, that was launched by RP Corporation in Sector E-16, had also obtained an NOC from the CDA. According to the layout plan, the scheme is to be developed on 1,616 kanals having 931 plots. However, the developers have failed to purchase the required land.

Another private housing scheme, Margalla View, was launched by the Twin City Housing that also acquired an NOC from the CDA. The scheme requires 2,018 kanals to accommodate 1,118 plots.

A scheme, Khyaban-i-Kashmir, started by the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society is also stated to be under observation. It has to purchase 3,480 kanals in sectors G-15 and F-15 to develop 2,516 plots.

The NAB is also monitoring the Cabinet Division Employees Cooperative Housing Society initiated by the employees of the cabinet division. According to its layout plan, the scheme needs 4,400 kanals in sectors E-16 and E-17 for 2,749 plots. An NOC has been issued to it.

Jeddah Town Housing Scheme sponsored by the Gillani Housing Corporation International was also approved by Mr Noori and an NOC was issued for 800 kanals in Zone-V.

Another scheme, Soan Garden, was initiated by the Civilian Employees Cooperative Housing Society (CECHS) and its layout plan was approved for 2,984.75 kanals to develop 2,401 plots.

Gulshan-i-Rabia Housing Scheme’s layout plan was approved on July 21, 2005. It is being developed in Mouza Herdogher and Jandala on 649 kanals.
Source: The Dawn