RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Sunday sealed 10 unauthorised commercial plazas, 22 shops and eight houses and collected fines from the owners of the illegal building.

RDA staff sealed five illegal plazas in Bahria Town Phase-8, three plazas and 22 illegal shops in Kalyal on Dhamial Road, and two plazas and eight illegal houses in Gulraiz Housing Scheme Rawalpindi.

According to a spokesman, 40 notices and 10 challans had been issued to owners of the illegal buildings. RDA also received fees/charges amounting to Rs25.75 million from various residential-cum-commercial buildings last week in lieu of commercialisation.

The owners of the above mentioned properties have violated the Punjab Development of States Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2020 and constructed illegal commercial buildings without approval. RDA Director General Abdul Sattar Isani has directed the civic body officials to take strict action against encroachments, illegal and unauthorised constructions and commercial activities.

He said people should also show moral responsibility and remove all kinds of encroachments as much as possible.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2021