RDA seeks halt to illegal projects’ marketing

Urges anti-graft body, crime watchdog, others to act against housing societies

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sent letters to various institutions including the State Bank of Pakistan, urging them to halt the advertisement of illegal housing schemes on social media platforms.

Other institutions include the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the FIA Cybercrime Wing, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), district collector, district council, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Islamabad commissioner, and others.

According to a spokesperson for the authority, a recent crackdown on unauthorised schemes resulted in the registration of FIRs against four such schemes within the Mandira police station.

The Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering Directorate of RDA took legal action against individuals associated with these illegal housing projects, including Malik Tariq, Qazi Naveed, Sharif Khan, Sajid Chaudhry, Sajid Munir, Sardar Maqsood Khan, Sardar Awais, Chaudhry Seemab, and Yaqoob. The prohibited housing schemes mentioned in the FIRs include Kashmir View Residency Phase 1-2, GB Valley, and Pak Kashmir Housing Project, located in Mouza Pothi Bajinyal in Rawalpindi.

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The RDA further stated that legal actions are being taken against the advertising and marketing of illegal housing schemes, with prior notices issued to the sponsors of these schemes.

The public has been warned against investing in such illegal housing projects, and sponsors are advised to cease marketing their unapproved schemes and seek RDA's approval to avoid strict legal consequences.

The RDA director general has instructed the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering Directorate to continue taking rigorous actions against illegal housing schemes, unauthorised construction and commercial activities, booking offices, and other encroachments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2024.