FAISALABAD: Even though the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) has declared 41 housing schemes illegal and another 48 unapproved, the scheme managers and the intending buyers seem undeterred.

In the first week of July, the FDA got published the list of illegal and unapproved societies in newspapers. This did not affect the thriving industry as their offices have collected millions from the people by selling forms and plots.

The societies, declared illegal, did not crop up overnight. They have been doing business for years openly.

Sources said owing to pressure from different quarters, the FDA officials had to issue a public notice informing the people regarding the status of the colonies.

Mehboob Ahmed bought a plot at a housing scheme being developed on Sargodha Road. When asked why he bought a plot in a dubious scheme, he said it was the prime responsibility of the FDA officials to keep an eye on the affairs of the housing colonies. He said the developers had sound relations with the officials of the FDA.

FDA governing body chairman Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, also a PML-N MPA from PP-68, told Dawn an inquiry committee would be formed to check the credentials of the colonies established in the last 10 years in the jurisdiction of the authority. He said the committee would also name the FDA officials who helped developers construct colonies illegally.

He said the FDA was promoting new residential colonies, however such projects must be lawful. He said we would not allow anyone to sell the land earmarked in the private colonies for mosques, schools, parks and other amenities.

FDA Director General Yawar Husain said letters had been sent to the revenue authorities not to entertain the documents of the colonies yet to be approved by the FDA.

He said people had been informed regarding the illegal colonies. He said some of the colonies had submitted the requisite documents required for the approval.

These are illegal societies

The colonies declared illegal include: Maryam Villas in Chak 120-JB; Rehmat Town and Rasheed Colony in Chak 241-RB; Gulshan Ali in Chak 238-RB; Aqsa Town in Chak 119-JB; Danial City in Chak 225-RB; Ahmed Town in Chak 223-RB; Welcome City in Chak 5-JB; Haq Bahu Town in Chak 225-RB; Hamza Town in Chak 215-RB; Sangam Town in Chak 67-JB; Nasheeman Housing Scheme in Chak 215-RB; Rehman Town-I and II in Chak 202-RB; Iqbal Garden in Chak 206-RB; Rasheed Garden in Chak 208-RB; Imam Town and Abdullah City in Chak 189-RB; Waheed Garden in Chak 197-RB; Waseem Town in Chak 5-JB; Hamza Town in Chak 203-RB; Imtiaz City in Chak 222-RB; Hassan Block in Chak 203-RB; Bab-i-Salam in Chak 73-JB; Qayyaum Garden in Chak 225-RB; Gulshan Madina in Chak 196-RB; Yousaf Town in Chak 239-RB, Umer Block in Chak 117-JB; Gareen Town in Chak 223-RB; Reman Garden in Chak 117-JB; Fateh Town in Chak 119-JB, Hassan Garden in Chak 120-JB, Iqbal Town in Chak 119-JB; Best Home in Chak 238-RB; Kareem City in Chak 7-JB; Ahmed City in Chak 124-JB; Bilal Town in Chak 124-JB; Aqsa Town in Chak 219-RB; Abbas Town in Chak 225-RB; Umer Garden in Chak 67-JB; Danial Town in Chak 232-RB and Tarrar Town Chak 225-RB.

Beware of yet to be approved societies

According to the FDA, 48 cases of colonies are under process and they are: Citi Housing Scheme in Chak 4, 5 and 118-JB on Sargodha Road; Ibrahim Villas, Model City extension, Eden Valley, Akbar Housing Scheme, Umer Garden, Sitara Qamar Villas, Hamza Homes, Abdullah Garden phase-II, Tec Town, Canal Villas and Jahan Undlas Canal Road, Motorway Valley, Gulshan Madina and Riazul Jannah, Motorway City on Sargodha Road, Rehman Village extension on Jhang Road, Gulshan Harram, Model Town, Luxury Enclave and City Villas on Samundri Road, Ghalib City in Chak 208-RB, Jawad Town and Allied Housing scheme, Dreamland and Al-Mehboob Garden on Samundri Road, City Gold City, Orchard Homes and Naseem Garden on Sattiana Road, Riaz Garden Narawala Road, Ahmed Green Valley, Millat Road, Eden Garden Chak 208-RB, Umer Valley and Lateef Garden on Wahge Wala Road, Khyaban Manzoor and Gulberg Valley on Jaranwala Road, Paradise Farm House and Sitara Valley on Sheikhupura Road, Ismail City (phase-II) and Sitara Sapna City (extension), Hamza Block on Daewoo Road, Model City (phase-II) and Al-Raheem Valley on Sattiana Road, Model City-I Royal Villas on Jaranwala Road and Al-Haram Jhang Road.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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