Factories, warehouses to be shifted from residential areas
Want zero-rated regime for cottage industry. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Rawalpindi district administration has decided to move all small and large factories, warehouses and other illegal businesses from residential areas to the outskirts.
Five teams of the Civil Defence Department have been formed to carry out inspections of residential areas where these factories and illegal businesses are operating illegally.
The survey will be completed in two weeks and on the basis of the report, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, the Rawalpindi Development Authority and Cantonment boards will start operations against such establishments.
Civil Defence District Officer Talib Hussain said that several factories of clothes, cardboard, plastic, chemicals and gunpowder are operating in residential areas and streets putting the lives of citizens in danger.
He said that these establishments also pilfer electricity and gas and evade taxes. He said that they will be removed and shifted outside the city in the next 90 days.
Those who refuse to vacate after red notices will be slapped with arrears of commercial property tax, electricity and gas charges and other levies and they will be sealed.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2023.