100 illegal shops, five markets sealed

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday carried out a grand operation against illegal and unauthorised commercial buildings and sealed 100 shops and five markets on Chakri Road and Gulraiz Housing Scheme.

Surprisingly, the civic agency sprang into action by keeping a mysterious silence till the completion of work on these illegal and unauthorized commercial markets and shops.

Previously, the civic agency also remained silent during the construction of 50 illegal shops and stores on Adiala Road but they were sealed once the construction was completed.

Sources in the RDA said that now the process of regularising these 150 shops and five illegal markets will start with a fine.

The RDA building control cell’s inspectors remain silent when illegal constructions get underway until the work was completed and notices were issued.

One under-construction residential building was also sealed during the operation, RDA spokesperson Hafiz Irfan said adding that the building control wing continues to carry out its anti-encroachment drive.

He said that owners of these illegal commercial buildings appeared before the concerned authorities and were directed to regularise the structures.

He warned that FIRs would be registered against the owners if they were not regularised in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the RDA has urged the public to consult the civic agency before investing in illegal projects to avoid financial losses.

In this regard, trained and uniformed officials have also been included in the enforcement squad.

Earlier, the RDA issued notices to 12 illegal housing schemes in the Rawalpindi region. The civic agency had also advised the citizens to double-check the status of the housing societies from the official website of RDA before investing in them.

Owing to the non-implementation of the law, illegal housing societies and businesses have seen mushroom growth in the Rawalpindi division over the years.

Around 264 housing societies are operating illegally in the jurisdiction of the RDA.

Though the regulator has identified the illegal housing schemes, it has failed to initiate legal action against the illegal business.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has decided to replicate “the Allahabad Bazaar model” in other markets to get rid of encroachments. Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO) Imran Gulzar, after a successful encroachment operation in Allahabad Bazaar, got assurance from traders that they will not allow encroachments in front of their shops and sidewalks in the future.