RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has banned social media marketing of an allegedly illegal housing scheme, Blue World City, and warned its sponsors.

According to the authority’s spokesperson, a case between RDA and Blue World City housing scheme was under hearing in the high court and it would not allow running of advertisement without a final decision or approval of the scheme from the RDA.

He said the RDA’s Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate had warned the housing scheme, saying “this marketing needs to stop immediately, otherwise, illegal advertising and marketing will be prosecuted”.

He said on the directions of RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa, people were advised in their own interest, to avoid any investment in illegal and unauthorised housing schemes.

He said that the public is also advised to check from RDA before investing in housing schemes. This information can be checked on the RDA website (www.rda.gop.pk).

He said the RDA had sent letters to Cybercrime Islamabad and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) with requests and information to stop illegal advertisements of private housing schemes on social media, WhatsApp, YouTube and other internet-enabled applications.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2023