MULTAN: Senior officers of the Multan Development Authority (MDA) on Friday briefed the officials of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the establishment of residential schemes at the land which could only be used for education or health facilities.

The MDA officers briefed NAB officials on alleged illegalities committed in the establishment of three schemes — Alfalah Housing, Royal Orchard and Blessing Homes -- in the last three years, said a handout issued by NAB.

MDA additional DG Altaf Husain Sario explained the master plan of Multan metropolitan to NAB officials and affirmed that the authority would resolve these matters as per its laws and report to NAB Multan within two weeks.

Sources said the MDA had violated its own master plan for the city (2008-28) by allowing the establishment of three residential schemes at the places which could only be used for educational/health purpose.

They said the MDA officials had taken a stand when the master plan was being prepared it was decided that in case of the approval of the schemes whose applications had been received, the area would be excluded from special zone. However, the sources alleged, all the three schemes had been approved after the approval of the master plan despite the fact that they did not have any documentary proof of their claim.

The sources said the master plan was approved in 2012 but the MDA started giving approval to these schemes after 2014 while the entire process to get approval for a scheme required not more than two months.

The MDA officials had no authority to exclude the area from the master plan without the approval of the chief minister and they also did not have such approval.

The total approved area of Royal Orchard is 1,699 kanal while on ground the scheme consists of over 5,000 kanal.

The master plan that was approved on Jan 31, 2012, proposed three educational/health zones for higher education facilities on Matital Road, Southern Bypass/Budhla Sant Road junction and Qasba Maral Road south of Old Bypass.

It is stated these areas were presently deprived of such facilities and due to being located in the urban fringe would help boost the growth in these areas.

Published in Dawn October 29th, 2016