By: Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: A fresh dispute has emerged over the proposed creation of 33 additional residential plots or houses in the PHA Officers Residencia on Kurri Road which was a closed case in the year 2018 after interference by the Public Accounts Committee and Wafaqi Mohtasib decisions. The 588 allottees say they already paid more than Rs. 501.5 million to preserve the scheme’s green areas in addition to the originally agreed cost of grey structure houses.
The housing scheme was approved in 2006 and 2007 for senior government officers on a self financing basis, according to the available document. The project had an estimated cost of about Rs. 6 billion, and the houses were completed in 2020 and handed over to the allottees.
The present dispute goes back to an earlier proposal for 40 additional plots on green areas. That proposal was taken up by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 2018 after concerns were raised about changes to the approved layout. Following a site inspection, the committee directed that no changes be made to the original CDA approved layout plan. The Federal Ombudsman later endorsed the PAC directions, while the PHA Foundation Board also accepted the position, according to the available record.
After several years, PHA Foundation again moved the matter. On March 17, 2023, it sent a proposal to the CDA seeking an amendment to the original 2012 layout plan for the creation of 33 additional residential plots on green and open areas. The case remained pending at the CDA until August 2025. It was then followed up again,
and a CDA letter dated August 11, 2025 asked for publication of public notices regarding the proposed additional plots.
Residents say the new proposal affects land that had long been shown as green or open space in the approved plan. They argue that these areas were part of the basis on which people bought and occupied their houses.
PHA Foundation has stated that about 19 percent of the total scheme area, covering around 727 kanals, has been allocated for green and open spaces, compared with the 15 percent minimum requirement mentioned in the available record. Residents dispute the calculation.
According to the residents, around 24 kanals consist of small and scattered pieces of land
that cannot realistically be used as proper parks or meaningful community spaces. They also say around 10 kanals outside the boundary wall have been included in the calculation even though the land is occupied by local villagers and is not under the scheme’s actual control and the allottees had paid for the said 10 kanals to CDA through PHA F.
The residents further say that most of the existing green areas were developed through contributions made by the residents themselves. They argue that these spaces should remain available for the community and should not be replaced by additional houses.
The proposed plots have also raised concerns among owners of corner houses and properties facing parks. The available record says residents who were allotted corner houses had paid 10
percent premium in 2010–11, while some original owners reportedly sold their houses at a much higher price because their houses were facing green areas or had corner locations. Residents say new plots near these properties could change the character and openness of those locations.
Environmental concerns are another part of the dispute. Residents say some of the proposed locations are close to natural drainage channels, rainwater nullahs and low lying areas. They fear that construction could affect the natural movement of rainwater during heavy monsoon rains and cloudbursts.
The available document also raises a question about whether a fresh environmental assessment or clearance had been obtained before such a major change to the approved
layout plan. It appears that no fresh Environmental Impact Assessment or new environmental clearance has been submitted or shared with the revised layout plan.
Residents are also concerned about the capacity of existing roads, sewerage, drainage and water supply systems. They say these services were designed around the population and density shown in the original approved layout and that 33 more houses could place additional pressure on the system.
The dispute is also linked to a financial contribution made by the allottees. According to the residents, 588 allottees paid more than Rs. 501.5 million during 2018 and 2019, in addition to the earlier cost of their houses, to protect and preserve the scheme’s green areas.
Residents say PHA Foundation had earlier considered allowing 40 additional plots in return for avoiding extra charges, while another proposal involved construction of high rise apartments on land reserved for a graveyard. They say both proposals were later dropped following the 2018 decisions of the Public Accounts Committee and the Federal Ombudsman.
The residents now want the CDA to look at the proposed revision in the context of the original 2012 layout, the earlier decisions of the relevant forums, the actual availability of usable green space, drainage conditions and the capacity of existing public services.
The available document records that residents have questioned whether a matter addressed several years ago should now be reopened in a
way that could affect community open spaces, property values and the existing planning arrangement of the housing scheme. They have urged the CDA to carefully review the proposal before any change is approved.
PHA Foundation was contacted for its official position. PHA F Director Fateh Khan said, “This is not my domain. It pertains to the Planning Wing.” The Planning Wing Deputy Director, Mr Kashif, did not reply to the request for comment before filing the story.
CDA was also contacted for its official position on the proposed revision, the original approved layout, earlier decisions and environmental and infrastructure concerns. The Media Department did not reply. CDA Director Ejaz ul Hassan said the land had been inserted at the expense of PHA, residents had objected and PHA had denied those objections. He said residents had now submitted their objections again to CDA and added that the questions raised could be sought from PHA, while CDA would follow its procedure and all relevant regulations.
