TAXILA: The Building Control Department of the Cantonment Board Wah (CBW) sealed over 70 premises on Saturday in the second phase of its crackdown on residences being used for commercial purposes in the city.

As per a CBW spokesperson, upon the instructions of Station Commander Brig Nadeem Sadiq, Cantonment Executive Officer Maria Jabeen and Additional Chief Executive Officer Ghulam Sabir, the second phase of the crackdown was launched against those who were running businesses on domestic properties, evading taxes and causing loss to the national kitty.

The crackdown was launched against residential buildings being used for commercial purposes in Lalarukh, Lalazar, G.T. Road and adjacent areas.

The spokesman said a large number of illegal offices, educational institutions, hospitals, beauty parlours, shops and workshops were being run in residential buildings in these areas.

Briefing reporters about the crackdown initiated in the city, Cantonment Executive Officer Maria Jabeen said: “Under Cantonment Act 1924 Section 268-A, the owners would be notified to cease and refrain from any such business activities in these residential buildings.”

Ms Jabeen said 423 residential premises had been identified by the Building Control Department of the CBW that were illegally used for commercial purposes and were evading taxes.

She said 203 premises were identified in Lalarukh alone, while 220 other premises were identified in Gulistan Colony, 9-F Market, Officer Colony, Laig Ali Chowk, 15-G Market and Anwar Chowk.

The cantonment executive officer said that under the law, the administrative body could seal residential plots and houses engaged in such activities.

“Cantonment board authorities sent many notices and subsequent reminders to the leaseholders to commercialise the properties that were leased to them for residential purposes, but they did not respond to these notices and even did not commercialise their properties. Subsequently, action of sealing these properties was taken accordingly,” Ms Jabeen added.

Responding to a question, she said following the direction of the Director General of Military Lands and Cantonments (DGML&C), action was taken against illegal shops and other commercial properties in residential areas.

“In the month of May, the list of Cantonment Board dues defaulters will be published in national newspapers, therefore they should pay their long outstanding dues,” she added.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2024