RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Friday requested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to place owners of private housing scheme, University Town, on the Exit Control List (ECL) for alleged fraudulent activities.

RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza also requested the commissioner to appoint an inquiry officer for transparent investigation in the matters of University Town.

In a parallel move towards internal accountability, RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza suspended two RDA officials - Samiullah Niazi, Director Town Planning, and Shiza Tanveer, Assistant Director Town Planning.

The suspension has been ordered due to their failure to curb illegal activities carried out by the management of University Town Housing Scheme and for their inability to ensure effective enforcement of RDA’s regulatory mandates.

According to a press release, on the directions of the Secretary, Housing Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) Noorul Amin Mengal, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) took strict compliance measures initiated against illegal activities in the University Town housing scheme.

Ms Murtaza has formally approached the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general with a request to place the names of owners of University Town on ECL.

The press release stated that this initiative has been taken in view of serious allegations involving fraudulent activities, cheating the public at large, unauthorised sale and purchase of plots and non-payment of mandatory government fees by the management of the housing scheme.

“These actions amount to gross violations of the applicable laws, rules and regulations governing private housing schemes in Punjab,” it stated.

The release quoting RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza said such violations not only caused substantial financial loss to innocent citizens but also undermined the regulatory framework designed to ensure safe and lawful urban development.

To further strengthen the transparency of the investigation process, DG RDA also wrote to the commissioner, requesting the nomination of an inquiry officer.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025