RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Saturday decided to conduct a joint survey with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to define borders of the two cities and resolve disputes over their revenue limits.

RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza told Dawn that the governing body of the civic agency at a meeting on Saturday asked the divisional commissioner to talk to the CDA to carry out the joint survey.

He said due to the undefined borders of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, residents faced lots of problems while purchasing land.

He said the civic bodies were also confused which area fell in their limits while giving non-objection certificates (NOC) for construction of houses and commercial buildings.

“In the absence of defined borders, the excise and taxation department also faces problems as people mostly produce NOCs issued in Islamabad which reduces its (RDA) revenue,” he said.

Apart from this, the governing body also formed a committee to regularise housing societies launched before 1989.

The RDA was established in 1989 and it declared illegal all housing schemes launched before its formation.

The RDA chairman said many investors launched housing schemes before 1989 and after selling plots to citizens fled the country. “There are 17 to 19 such housing schemes in the limits of the RDA,” he said.

As a result, the residents of these housing schemes are facing problems to get natural gas, electricity and other utility services.

The committee led by RDA Vice Chairman Haroon Hashmi would devise measures to resolve such issues.

The basic aim to form the committee was to check and verify mortgages and status of development carried out by the private housing societies. The committee will also check physical status and development in the housing schemes.

During the meeting, Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal, who is also the RDA director general, proposed hiring services of a consultant and contractor for the execution of the Rawalpindi Ring Road and Katchery Chowk projects.

The commissioner directed the officials to provide relief to the citizens and create awareness about building and zoning regulations 2020 and illegal housing schemes.

He also directed the RDA officials to take strict action against unauthorised construction and commercial activities.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022