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The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has warned and advised citizens not to spend and invest in illegal and unauthorised housing schemes in hope of profits.
RDA Director-General (DG) Tahir Zafar Abbasi confirmed that there are many illegal and unauthorised housing developments taking place without obtaining the no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the civic agency.
The Director General also suggested to the concerned authorities to keep strict eye on housing ventures which are illegal, according to the spokesman for RDA.
Moreover, the DG also directed to think over all the possible actions to facilitate and give relief to the grieved citizens.
In Rawalpindi district, around 300 unauthorized housing schemes developed according to the list of RDA.
According to DG an important role is played by Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MPTE) Directorate, who keeps record of the status of the housing communities and also people should check the RDA website to understand the repute of the project of housing before any investment.
Other authority which is Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has a significant role in guiding private TV channels to stop promoting and advertising about unlawful projects of housing, RDA added.
The DG urged the citizens to be apprised of the status of Building and Zoning Regulations 2020 and all illegal housing schemes.
He directed the RDA employees to work hard and do their utmost to address the grievances of the residents.
He directed the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Department to take stern action against illegal and unauthorized constructions and commercial activities without any discrimination.
The spokesperson said that RDA had also requested Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Pakistan Telecommunication Limited not to provide the services of illegal housing schemes.
He said that a grand operation has been planned against illegal and fake housing societies. FIRs will also be registered against the owners of fake and illegal housing societies in the concerned police stations.
The Punjab government had banned the issuance of NOCs to all new housing societies for the protection and preservation of agricultural lands.
The authority also wrote letters to State Bank of Pakistan, National Accountability Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency Cyber Crime Islamabad, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Islamabad, SNGPL Islamabad, District Collector Rawalpindi, District Council Rawalpindi and Commissioner Islamabad, and requested them to take actions.
Bank accounts of owners and management of illegal housing societies should be frozen and social media accounts should be blocked.
The spokesman said that illegal and unauthorized housing societies were on the rise in the district while their owners were also involved in promoting their illegal business through advertisements on TV channels and social media.
The management of illegal housing projects was also warned to contact the RDA for obtaining NOC of schemes in accordance with the law against marketing of their unapproved and illegal housing schemes, otherwise strict legal actions would be taken against them.
According to RDA officials, there are 68 fake housing societies in different areas of Chakri while 275 illegal housing societies in Kotli Sattian, Taxila, Jando, Fateh Jhang Road, Jalala, Niko, Wani, Paswal, Bajjar, Katia, Jhal Yari, New Murree, Patriata, Jhika Gali, Baroha, Manga, Angoori, Nimbal, Khattar, Ghora Gali, Masyari Expressway, Chattar, Charlot, Salgaran, Salkhitar, Dehgal, Kak, Chaklala, Kalial, Pind Nasrullah, Chak Bailey, Garja, Adiala, Jodia and other areas.
RDA officials said that NOCs would not be issued to housing schemes until the ban was lifted.
Officials said that they should immediately contact RDA to prepare a detailed and comprehensive case against the owners of fake housing societies.