In light of unclear territorial boundaries, officials in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are actively working to rectify unauthorized development plan approvals that have occurred in each other’s areas.
This issue has predominantly impacted regions along the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, including Kotha Kalan, Sohan, and Faizabad sectors, causing challenges for both the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
Historically, Rawalpindi encompassed the entire region where the Federal Capital is now situated. Even though the CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have acquired a significant portion of the land, the Rawalpindi Revenue Department still maintains records for some Islamabad estates.
At the CDA headquarters, a committee led by Waseem Hayat Bajwa, a member of the planning team, convened to address this issue. The committee was informed that the CDA board had granted them permission to tackle this matter individually.
According to CDA authorities, prior to 2018, there was uncertainty regarding the exact borders between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This ambiguity led to the RDA approving several building plans within Islamabad. It wasn’t until a 2018 Survey of Pakistan that the boundaries of Islamabad were officially delineated, revealing that Rawalpindi had authorized designs for various projects falling under Islamabad’s jurisdiction.
The CDA board established a committee and set December 31, 2022, as the deadline after which no further buildings would be considered for legalization. Following their initial meeting, the committee opted to assess each case on an individual basis.
An official suggested that if the RDA approved a development plan within Islamabad’s boundaries, the fees collected should be transferred to the CDA’s account and managed according to the CDA’s regulations.
Conversely, if the CDA approved a development plan in Rawalpindi, the fees should be directed to the relevant Rawalpindi departments.
The representative emphasized that addressing the issue of overlapping boundaries and flawed development plans is a significant step towards a conclusive resolution.
To ensure seamless operations, it was recommended that the committee also oversee the transfer of outstanding revenue records from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.