RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Friday sealed 11 illegal shops in different areas of the city.

RDA spokesman said that the civic body was conducting operations against illegal construction and land mafia in the city.

Three shops each in Ghazni Market,three shopson City Saddar Road and five shops on Chakri Road, he said.

He said RDA had been actively conducting operations against unauthorised commercial-cum-residential constructions including plazas, shops, schools and other illegal land use encroachments within the controlled area of RDA in Rawalpindi.

RDA staff with the assistance of Rawalpindi police carried out operation. The owners of these properties had constructed illegal commercial buildings without No-Objection Certificates in violation of Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations, 2020.

He said the Punjab government had directed the RDA to take strict action against encroachments, unauthorised constructions and commercial activities without any fear and favour.

He said the citizens should also show moral responsibility and remove every type of encroachment as much as they can, so that they could avoid any further loss.

He said that the owners of the properties have carried out development work in different areas illegally, without the approval of layout plan from the authority.

The people have been advised in their own interest that they should not make any investment in the illegal / unauthorised area and for high rise buildings as the same are not approved and allowed by the authority.

RDA suggests the citizens to consult the RDA before investing in such projects as the civic agency will not be responsible for their losses, he added.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2021