RAWALPINDI: On the directions of the director general Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa, the Land Use and Building Control (LU&BC) Wing of the authority has conducted a operation against illegal and unauthorised commercial buildings and sealed 40 shops on Girja road and Chakra Road Rawalpindi.

He said that the Building Control Wing of RDA is continuing its operations against illegal unauthorised commercial-cum-residential buildings in the city.

Two assistant directors, building inspectors and others with the assistance of Rawalpindi Police from police stations concerned carried out operations and sealed the above illegal commercial buildings.

He said that the owners of the above-mentioned properties have violated approved plans / maps and violated the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2021 and constructed illegal commercial buildings without approval and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

He said that on the direction of the DG RDA, before the operation, a ‘Mushtri Hoshiar Bash’ advertisement was placed under the Punjab Land Use and Classification Rules 2021 at the relevant forum. As per the RDA advertisement, commercialisation fees are reduced by 50 percent, so “either commercialise your building” otherwise, the constructed building will be demolished and sealed.

He said Mr Jappa directed the LU&BC Wing to give two weeks’ time to owners of these illegal commercial buildings to regularise buildings and submit the maps. He said that if these buildings are not regularised within two weeks, they will be sealed again and first information reports (FIRs) will be registered.

He said that the DG RDA has directed the LU&BC Wing to take strict action against illegal / unauthorised residential-cum-commercial buildings and encroachments without any fear and favour. He said that the general public should also show moral responsibility and remove every type of encroachment as much as they can, so that they could avoid any further loss.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2022