RDA fails to recover parking plaza rent

The city's only parking plaza at Fawara Chowk, Raja Bazaar, has also emerged as a defaulter of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), which failed to recover monthly rent from the contractor for seven months.

Outstanding dues, including rent, surcharge and penalties, have reached Rs42 million. The contractor has obtained a stay order from the court to retain the parking contract.

According to sources, RDA, already facing a financial scandal involving Rs1.94 billion, is now confronting administrative challenges as well.

The authority has not only failed to complete two additional floors of the incomplete parking plaza but has also been unable to ensure regular rent recovery from the contractor operating the basement, ground, first and second floors under the awarded contract.

With seven months of unpaid rent, surcharges and penalties, the contractor's liabilities have risen to Rs42 million. While RDA failed to recover rent during this period, the contractor secured a stay order before any action could be initiated.

RDA administration has issued a show-cause notice to Administrative Officer Khawar Saleem, seeking an explanation for failing to ensure regular recovery of rent from the contractor.