ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday formally opened a facilitation centre where building plans will be approved within three days.

CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq inaugurated the facility. Speaking on the occasion, he said the facility will be helpful for those who want to get their building plans approved on an urgent basis. He directed the officials for opening such service centres in other wings of the CDA in phases.

“Building Control Directorate of Capital Development Authority has introduced state-of-the-art fast-track service by modernising the system of providing amenities to the citizens,” said a press release.

“Residential buildings of 356 yards will now be approved with an additional fee of Rs20,000 with required documents within two days, while residential buildings larger than 356 yards will be approved with a fee of Rs30,000. Additionally, commercial buildings up to 10000 square yards will also be approved within three days. A separate desk has also been established,” it said.

The service is applicable for small plots and for big commercial plots. The design vetting committee of CDA headed by member planning will approve the building plans.

Last month, the CDA board had approved the setting up of the facilitation centre for fast-track approval of building plans. The board had fixed 48 and 72 hours for the approval of small residential and commercial building plans, respectively, on the payment of extra fees.

The building control wing, through a summary, had told the board that the current timeline for approval of building plans was 21 days. It has been observed that some applicants request for early approval which mostly cannot be considered owing to different reasons, including but not limited to high volume of applications, shortage of staff and observations marked in the submitted applications.

The board was told that there was a need for setting up a facilitation centre at the Building Control Directorate for the approval of building plans on a fast-track basis.

All the board members agreed to the setting up of the centre to provide the fast-track facility to citizens. The residential plots measuring up to 60x90 would be approved within 48 hours and building plans on commercial plots measuring up to 500.00 sq-yards having covered area less than 10,000 sq feet should be approved within 72 hours.

Sources said after noticing public complaints, the CDA chief and Building Control Director GeneralFaisal Naeem had last month decided to launch the express service.

When contacted, the DG building control said the service was active now and soon, as directed by the CDA chairman, it will be extended to other directorates as well.

Mr Naeem said he had also directed his staff to ensure approval of ordinary building plans within 21 days as per regulations. The DG said no negligence would be tolerated and in case of any delaying tactics by staff of the building control, the citizens should approach him and lodge a complaint.

“The chairman has made it clear for all staff of building control that no negligence would be tolerated,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023