The National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change met on Wednesday to discuss a number of issues, including illegal housing societies, soybean imports, and Margalla Hills.
The committee was chaired by Nuzhat Pathan, and it was attended by representatives from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Climate Change.
During the meeting, it was revealed that there are more than 600 illegal housing societies in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The CDA Chairman, Noor Ul Amin Mengal, said that there are 150 illegal housing societies in Islamabad, 318 in Rawalpindi, and around 122 in Fateh Jang and Attock.
The committee members expressed concern about the impact of these illegal housing societies on the environment. They said that these societies are often built on unauthorized land, and they often do not have proper drainage or sewage systems. This can lead to pollution and flooding.
The committee also discussed the issue of soybean imports. The committee was informed that Pakistan has been importing soybean meal since 2015, but the imports have been disrupted in recent months due to a lack of licenses.
The committee members said that the government needs to take steps to ensure that soybean imports are resumed. They said that this is important for the poultry industry, which relies on soybean meal as a source of protein.
The committee also discussed the issue of Margalla Hills. The committee members expressed concern about the number of people who are visiting the hills, and they said that this is putting a strain on the environment.
The committee recommended that the CDA fence off the Margalla Hills to prevent people from entering the area. They also recommended that the CDA increase patrolling in the hills to prevent illegal activities.
The committee meeting was productive, and it resulted in a number of recommendations that will help to protect the environment in the twin cities.
The only question is what govt is doing to plan for expension of population residentional need
Except DHA & Bahria all societies are Illegal….. this is official verdict of Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Nicely slapped..
No, this isn’t. Societies which do not follow the urban planning guide shouldn’t be allowed to exist. Will you prefer living in a society without properly designed sewage system, water supply, waste management, environmental protection, road infrastructure, lightning, safety?
How these illegal societies developed when they have not issued NOCc. Who is responsible. They should be brought into the courts. All CDA is responsible for this all mishap. Now they should deposit all booties what they have bribed from ticons of all these illegal societies.
This meeting only occurs to get bribery from landlords. They will be silent again for another year.
At a day, the entire country will be a housing society(s). No agricultural landwillleft, nothing to breathe, all walk of MAFIA will run to their own countries.
Thanks to cda for sleeping so sound that over 600 societies kept selling plots and they were unaware. When gangsters like Nuzhat Pathan chairing such meetings what else anyone can expect.
Please share the list of all illeagle societies.
The Committee member is showing her concern about the drainage system of 600 illegal societies but he /she didnt bother to ask that how these illegal societies came in being without approval of CDA and RDA. The member of the committee didnot ask that what action has been taken by development Authorities of Ibd and RWP so far to stop their activities.
The member also damn care to ask the future the public investment in billions that has been invested so far.
This is extremely weird how these members perform their duties at cost of national exchequer.
Andddd this meeting of “concern” takes place all “600” housing societies are fully occupied by ppl and “NOW” they realise these societies are hazardous for environment!! How lovely!! How come these concerns arise “after” residential areas are fully occupied? It definitely doesn’t happen magically overnight. Why is the general public made to suffer when they’ve paid hard earned money?
When socities are being built everyone takes their cut after they are built blame game starts.
Only thriving business in country is housing societies and plot buying/selling. Wonder what will happen when all habitable land is under such illegal occupation.
I think the steps taken by NA Standing Committee will no doubt will have a positive effect on the environment which should have taken much earlier but still it’s never so late.The steps to be taken by CDA must be very strict.
I hope CDA doesn’t fence off the trails people use for morning and evening walks on Margalla Hills. Instead, they should put a check on hotels and restaurants that are fast mushrooming in these areas. These are more hazardous to environment. What happened to Supreme Court decision of closing these restaurants maximum by 10:30 at night to conserve wildlife?
It’s mind boggling such a huge no of illegal societies only in Rawalpindi /Islamabad and no action being initiated to stop them.
House in instant
Mushroom growth of more than 600 illegal housing societies in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and Attock, is a slap on the face of CDA, IMC, RDA, District Administrators and Police. Even many in Margalla Hills. All these illegal housing societies are being patronized by them. Noor Ul Amin Mengal, said that there are 150 illegal housing societies in Islamabad, 318 in Rawalpindi, and around 122 in Fateh Jang and Attock.
If so many societies are illeagal, why not mentioned any one name of these socities. It means government does not want a transparent process. Shame shame…declare the list of all these socities…then it can be thought government is sincere for common people.
So why CDA remains sleeping when plots are sold and people start building their houses. How come, Electricity and civic facilities are provided to these Housing Societies if they are illegal ?
If 150 societies in Islamabad 122 in Fateh Jung and 318 pindi is illigel, then which society is legel, it is a nonsense decision, this order is نادر شاہی . It is a blackmailing tool of authorities as there are thousands of billion rupees is invested by investors , overseas and citizens of Pakistan.
In most cases thousands are living in these housing societies. Just legalize all of them. While the concerned CDA and other officials need to be punished over failure to stop these housing societies from being built.