An audit reveals serious lapses by Islamabad housing societies and weak CDA oversight, putting property buyers at risk of fraud and irregularities.
A recent federal audit has revealed serious problems with housing societies in Islamabad. These societies are not sharing important documents called allotment letters with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) through the required digital system. At the same time, CDA itself has not properly checked the transfer letters of plots, which raises concerns about fraud and unfair pricing.
The CDA is responsible for making sure housing societies follow zoning laws and development rules. The audit found that many societies are not using the digital platform meant to regulate plot sales and building plans. This lack of monitoring has led to irregularities and violations.
The problem was first pointed out in early 2024, but CDA did not take sufficient action. Although CDA claimed it started digitizing the process in 2019 and asked housing societies to cooperate, the audit found that CDA did not follow up properly. A committee even asked CDA to report progress, but CDA failed to do so.
READ MORE: CDA Cleaning All Overhead Tanks and Water Filtration Plants
In 2023, CDA made new rules requiring all housing societies to have their plot transfer letters checked and approved by CDA to prevent fraud, such as selling plots in areas meant for parks or graveyards and overcharging buyers. However, CDA has not enforced these rules, leading to more concerns about how effective CDA’s management is.
Many people in Islamabad have been victims of scams by housing societies selling fake or illegal plots. CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani said the authority is now actively communicating with housing societies, warning the public not to trust allotment letters unless approved by CDA and taking actions like sealing offices and imposing fines on violators
