RDA Cracks Down on Illegal Housing Schemes

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has initiated legal proceedings against two illegal housing schemes. The RDA’s Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate has lodged First Information Reports (FIRs) against the developers of Mega City/Iqbal City and New Metro City for promoting their projects without obtaining the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

According to an RDA spokesperson, the FIRs were filed against M/s GK Mega City Developers Pvt Ltd and M/s BSM Developers Pvt Ltd. These companies were found to be illegally advertising their housing schemes located in Mouza Massa Kassowal at GT Road and Mouza Bhai Khan Matyal, Tehsil Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi District. The individuals named in the FIRs include Sheikh Tayyeb Zahid, Mubashir Hayyat, Qaiser Mahmood, Raja Zahid Hussain, Raja Daniyal, Bilal Bashir, Ijaz Ahmed, and Syed Jalilur Rehman.

The RDA spokesperson emphasized that the authority had previously issued notices to the owners of these illegal housing schemes, warning them against marketing their projects without the requisite NOC. “RDA had warned the violators that without getting NOC from RDA for launching the housing schemes, apartment projects, commercial buildings, etc. within the controlled area of RDA, all sorts of advertisement, marketing, and development of such projects through advertisement agencies is illegal,” he stated.

The spokesperson further advised citizens to refrain from investing in these unauthorized schemes, highlighting the potential risks involved. He reiterated that violators had been instructed to cease all marketing activities and to seek approval from the RDA to ensure compliance with legal requirements. “They were asked to contact RDA for approval of NOC and approval of the scheme as per law, otherwise, strict legal action would be taken against them,” he added.

In a broader effort to combat illegal real estate activities, the RDA has communicated with several key institutions, including the Governor State Bank of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, FIA Cyber Crime Islamabad, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Islamabad, SNGPL Islamabad, the District Collector Rawalpindi, District Council Rawalpindi, PEMRA Islamabad, and Commissioner Islamabad. These letters addressed the issue of illegal advertisements of private housing schemes on social media platforms.

The Director General of RDA has instructed the MP&TE Directorate to enforce stringent measures against unauthorized housing schemes, constructions, commercial activities, booking offices, and encroachments. This directive underscores the RDA’s commitment to maintaining regulatory compliance and protecting the interests of potential investors.