RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Aamir Khattak directed the divisional administration on Friday to speed up drive against illegal housing societies in the district without any discrimination.

In a meeting held to review the status of illegal housing societies, commissioner said: “RDA should adopt the policy of merit in the operation and intensify indiscriminate actions.”

He said that mushroom growth of illegal housing societies has not only put the hard earned money of innocent people at stake but also led to environmental destruction which required concrete measures to prevent it.

In the briefing by RDA, it was stated that there were 635 housing schemes in Rawalpindi, out of which 104 have been approved, the no-objection certificates of 96 are under process while action against the rest is ongoing.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Kinza Murtaza and other officials concerned participated in this meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office in Rawalpindi.

The four-member task force was formed last year in September comprising RDA director general as chairman and additional deputy commissioner revenue, superintendent of police Saddar and chief officer District Council as members.

The task force was assigned to launch grand operation against illegal housing societies. It will take action against the owners of the housing societies who recruited guards and constructed bunkers and hideouts.

According to terms of reference, The task force will launch crackdown on unapproved security agencies providing gunmen to housing societies and using illegal weapons.

After the meeting, RDA director general Kinza Murtaza asked the RDA to conduct the survey of the area under the administrative control of RDA and finalise the list of the illegal housing societies.

She asked the RDA to issue notices to all the housing societies which are running advertisement on social media as well as on print and electronic media. She also requested people to check with RDA the status of the housing society before making any investment in it.

Meanwhile, RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza also instructed the Enforcement Squad RDA to take strict action against encroachments in the city.

She said the enforcement squad of RDA would take strict action against illegal constructions and encroachments violating Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2020.

She said the Land Use and Building Control (LU&BC) Wing would continue taking strict actions against encroachments, illegal and unauthorised constructions and commercial activities without any fear or discrimination.

She directed the Building Control Wing to conduct a survey regarding fee and charges for approval of illegal residential and commercial buildings, commercialisation, completion maps, approval of building plans and regularise all illegal residential commercial buildings in the controlled area.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2024