Uncertainty about other partnerships

ISLAMABAD: After the Supreme Court verdict, the fate of other joint ventures between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and private firms has become uncertain. "We are uncertain about other joint ventures," CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told Dawn. But he believed that the joint ventures in which private companies have their own land would not be affected. "In Northern Strip project, the land belonged to CDA." Mr Elahi agreed that after the SC decision, it has become difficult for the CDA to go for more joint ventures to develop stalled residential sectors in the capital. "We have to find other ways to open new sectors." He said the authority will implement the court's orders in letter and spirit and pay whatever the amount spent by the cooperative housing society on the project. An office bearer of the housing society said it had spent over Rs1.5 billion on the project, which included getting land from encroachers, paying compensation to genuine landholders and developing commercial-cum-residential area in the Northern Strip. The CDA has also made joint venture with Habib Rafique for developing C-14, which is located on the foothills of Margalla near G.T. Road. In this sector the private firm owns more land than the CDA. Recently under a deal, the authority provided the Defence Housing Authority 1,937 kanals land.— Syed Irfan Raza