FAISALABAD: The Faisalabad Development Authority is allegedly turning a blind eye to an “illegal” private housing colony whose owners are luring the public into buying plot files though false advertisements, claiming the scheme has been approved by the FDA.

A short messaging service (SMS) message is being circulated by the owners of Omega Residencia, being established on Sargodha Road bypass, that claims the society is approved by the FDA so “you won’t lose your money while purchasing a plot there”.

When FDA Director General Sohail Khawaja was asked whether the colony had been approved by the authority or not, he replied, “We have sealed the colony till payment of the government dues.”

When Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali was holding acting charge of the FDA, he had initiated action in November last against the Omega Residencia, whose owners had been carrying out the development work and advertising the colony without getting authority’s approval.

Officials connivance with developers alleged

Due to the action, the developers had stopped all sorts of work. However, when the new FDA DG was appointed, they resumed their illegal activities like sale of plots and advertising the colony.

Some of the locals residing near the colony land alleged the developers had been selling plot files with impunity and the FDA officials concerned were “well aware” of the entire situation. They said in the past, the Citi Housing Colony owners too had sold hundreds of plot files without getting FDA approval.

The Citi Housing Colony, was also setup on the Sargodha Road and a fraud case had been registered at the Civil Lines police station against its owner -- Aamir Malik -- who is said to be a relative of a known property tycoon of the country. However, no further action has so far been taken against the suspect.

The locals say the people working for the Omega Residencia claimed that the FDA officials had assured them that the colony would be cleared of all charges so they should continue its advertising and sale of plots/files. They say if they stopped selling files and issuing advertisements of the colony, the investors would be discouraged resulting in losses to the developers.

A couple of days ago, the FDA DG also held a meeting with the developers of some housing colonies on the Sargodha Road and assured them that their ‘genuine’ issues would be resolved. The DG asked them to provide the relevant documents to the FDA for approval of their colonies and clear the dues.

In response to a query that it seems the FDA officials are conniving with unscrupulous elements to fleece the masses, the DG FDA said he should be provided with list of such officials so that action could be taken against them.

The locals argue that it was prime duty of the FDA to stop advertisements and plot files sale of such illegal schemes. They claimed that dozens of unsuspecting people had already purchased files of plots being sold fraudulently.

According to rules, the FDA officials said, the developers had no authority to start development work, advertising or sale of plots without getting a no objection certificate (NOC) from the FDA.

They claim that the Omega Residencia owners were continuing their activities despite strict warnings which showed they were politically well-connected.

When the DC had taken action against the colony in November last, the colony management had issued a handout, claiming they had started the development work after obtaining FDA permission.

However, the FDA officials said the management had been granted ‘Provisional Planning Permission (PPP)’ which does not mean they could start development work on ground and lure people through advertisements.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2019