‘Security clearance’ hinders construction of houses

People in Rawalpindi cantonment areas waiting for months to get permission for constructions

RAWALPINDI:

As many as 800 residential building plans approved by Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) have not been given security clearance.

The building plans had been approved by the RCB nearly six months ago and sent to the competent authority. However, the RCB has not received the security clearance so far.

The people waiting to start construction work on their properties were facing immense difficulties as no competent forum was available for the security clearance as the former elected members of the cantonment board had completed their term.

Earlier, the RCB president by using his discretionary powers under section 25 had approved all residential building plans and they had been sent to the relevant forum for security clearance.

However, the competent authority has not approved the security clearance of around 800 residential buildings, which had been hanging in the balance for months.

The delay has deferred the construction of houses in different areas including Dhok Syedan, Misryal Road, Dhok Gujran, People's Colony, Tench Bhatta, Ghaffar Kayani Road, Naseerabad, Dhok Banaras, Range Road, Dhok Chaudhry, Chak Madad Khan, Allahabad, Westridge etc.

The delay in the security clearance has added to the worries of the citizens as the cost of the construction material was rising with each passing day.

The rate of 1,000 bricks has gone up from Rs13,000 to Rs 14,000 and the cost of a cement bag has risen to Rs720 from Rs 560 amidst the recent wave of inflation.

Apart from this, the cost of labour has also increased during the span.

A local, Zafar Iqbal, said that the building plan of his five-marla house was approved by the RCB but the security clearance was standing in the way of construction. He expressed grave concern over the rising cost of construction material which will ultimately take a toll on his pocket in the coming days.

Zafar Iqbal said that he has been living in a rented house which was making a constant hole in his pocket.

Another local, Ghulam Abbas, said that he was quite happy about getting the building plan approved and was hoping to start construction work soon. However, he said, his building plan had not been given the security clearance despite the fact that he has been making rounds to the cantonment office to get it approved.

RCB member Haji Zafar Iqbal said that the building committee comprising elected representatives had cleared all building plans and then the RCB president approved them by using his discretionary powers.

RCB spokesperson Qaiser Mehmood said that he could not say more on the issue but people will get their building plans once they receive security clearance from the competent authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2021.