RAWALPINDI: The district administration has referred 129 complaints to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cyber crime wing for the registration of cases against illegal housing societies.

A ban had already been imposed on buying and selling plots in illegal housing schemes as 383 violators had been served legal notices, issued 218 challans, registered 212 FIRs and sealed 184 offices.

The district administration has announced a grand operation against illegal housing societies starting from Thursday and this time, they said that instead of doing this operation again and again, it should be carried out only once in such an effective way that it has excellent and lasting results.

It was decided in a meeting held here on Wednesday, which was participated by Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Dr Hasan Waqar Cheema, Additional Commissioner Coordination Syed Nazarat Ali, RDA director general Kinza Murtaza, administration, police and other officers.

The commissioner Rawalpindi division Engineer Aamir Khattak instructed Rawalpindi Development Authority to re-verify their list in the next 24 hours and enter all the details after taking in loop the other departments concernedso that no injustice is done to anyone during the operation.

He stressed the need that in case of illegality of any housing society, action will be taken against its owners.

He further said that people should be informed through media, social media, YouTube and billboards to avoid investing their hard-earned money in illegal housing schemes.

He said that the officers of the RDA and Revenue Department who were part of the activities of illegal housing schemes have been suspended and action has been initiated under the PEDA Act.

There is a complete ban on buying and selling plots in illegal housing schemes. Details about illegal and unapproved housing schemes are also updated on the RDA website on a daily basis, he said.

On this occasion, while giving a briefing on behalf of RDA, it was said that the action against unapproved and illegal housing schemes is going on, which will now be started with full swing under the supervision of Commissioner Rawalpindi. Currently, 70 private housing schemes in Rawalpindi are approved by RDA while 72 are under process.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2024