GUJRANWALA, Sept 13: On the orders of the provincial housing minister, as many as 38 out of 44 schemes were declared illegal during an operation conducted by the Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA).

This was claimed by GDA town planning director Chaudhry Tariq Rauf during a briefing here on Tuesday.

He pointed out that a detailed survey report of these housing schemes had been forwarded to higher authorities for action.

He said the housing schemes were being run by owners without getting any no objection certificate (NOC) while they did not get maps approved.

Survey: The excise and taxation department has started survey of as many as two dozen villages of Saddar tehsil to levy property tax and set aside Rs20 million recovery target.

This was stated by excise and taxation director Sheikh Sikander Hayat in a briefing here on Tuesday.

He pointed out that the former tehsil nazim and union council members of these areas had recommended imposition of property tax to enhance the revenue. As a result of which the department had started survey of new vegetable market on Sheikhupura Road, Wapda Town, Ladheywala Warriach, Chand Da Qila, Eminabad, Lohianwala, Aroop, Rahwali Mohafiz and Education Towns, he said.

Mr Hayat said notices would be issued to property owners for tax payment after completing the survey.

MURDER CASE: The anti-terrorism court No 2 continued the hearing of the murder of 14 people of Madina Syedan, Gujrat, and issued the charge sheet to seven accused Ghazanfar Abbas, Ahsan Ijaz, Fazeelat Shah, Rafiq Shah, Ghazanfar alias Ali Shah, Munir Haider and Muhammad Wasim on Tuesday.