RMC's building plan drive triggers traders' revolt

Traders protest seven-day notices demanding records for properties dating back 150 years

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), facing its worst financial crisis in two years and having failed to achieve its tax collection targets, has sought building plans for residential and commercial properties across all 46 union councils within its municipal limits, including buildings dating back 150 years, newly constructed houses, shops, markets and commercial plazas.

Traders have protested seven-day notices issued by the corporation and threatened a complete shutter-down strike.

The corporation's Building Branch has begun issuing red notices door-to-door in markets and old localities, warning property owners and occupants to submit the required building plans within seven days or face arrest, a fine of Rs100,000, imprisonment for three years, or both.

RMC area inspectors have served notices in Banni Chowk, Jamia Masjid Road, Kohati Bazaar, Circular Road, Saidpur Road, Shah Chan Chiragh, Pul Shah Nazar and Bagh Sardaran.

The notices have triggered strong protests from traders' organisations, including the Karyana Merchants Association, the Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran and the Citizens Action Committee, which have demanded their immediate withdrawal.

Traders questioned how owners of buildings constructed a century or 150 years ago could produce approved plans, pointing out that Pakistan came into existence in 1947, while the corporation was demanding records for buildings dating back to the 1880s. They also condemned what they described as threats of arrest, fines and imprisonment.

Karyana Merchants Association president Saleem Parvez Butt said plans were available for newly constructed buildings, but it was unreasonable to expect owners to produce documents for old properties.

He urged the city leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to intervene immediately and stop what he termed an injustice, warning that the party could face political repercussions otherwise.

Anjuman-e-Tajran Sabzi Mandi president Ghulam Qadir Mir also demanded an immediate end to the notices, urging the corporation to explore alternative sources of revenue. He said all traders' organisations would convene a joint meeting and launch a complete shutter-down strike if the notices were not withdrawn.

Citizens Action Committee chairman Malik Zaheer Awan maintained that the corporation could not demand building plans for properties constructed before 1947. He alleged that municipal officials and inspectors accepted gratification to allow buildings and shops to be constructed without proper documentation and subsequently harassed their owners.