Encroached land reclaimed near Diplomatic Enclave

The Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) has retrieved six acres of CDA-owned land behind the high-security Red Zone and Diplomatic Enclave in the federal capital, worth billions of rupees. According to the CDA, the land had been illegally occupied for decades and was reclaimed after a three-month-long operation during which 19 criminal cases were registered against the operatives of the influential occupation mafia. CDA officials further said that in order to protect the six acres of CDA-acquired land worth billions of rupees from illegal occupation in the future, the CDA Planning Department will send recommendations for the auction of saleable government land to the Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner. The final approval will be given by the CDA Board. Recounting the history of the land, officials stated said that in 1981, former President General Zia-ul-Haq had ordered the construction of a model village in Nurpur Shahan where a total of 23 residents were allotted plots by CDA at that time. CDA officials said that orders against encroachments had also been issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.