The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued show-cause notices to the owners and developers of 13 illegal housing schemes and land subdivisions over allegations of unauthorised development, illegal plot bookings, and unlawful advertising.
According to an RDA spokesperson, the action was taken by the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate on the instructions of the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and RDA Director General Salman Ghani. The notices are part of the authority’s ongoing campaign against unapproved housing projects in the region.
The projects named by the RDA include Bahria Town Phase-VIII Extension, Capital Smart City Phase-III, Qurtaba City Extension, Blue Sky Garden, Aqua Green Farms, Mughal Farms on Mari Jabbar Road, Kohistan Enclave Extension-I, and several farmhouse and land subdivision projects in areas including Kallar Syedan, Sagri, Shah Bagh, Mandra, and Bhakar Adda.
The authority said the projects were allegedly operating in violation of Section 12(5) of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, and Rule 4 of the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules, 2021.
RDA has directed the sponsors of the affected projects to immediately stop development activities, advertising, and the sale or purchase of plots. The developers have been given seven days to submit their responses. Failure to comply could lead to further legal action under the applicable laws.
The authority also warned potential buyers against investing in housing projects without confirming their approval status. RDA advised investors to verify the relevant NOC and legal status of a housing scheme before purchasing a plot or making any payment.
Under Section 37 of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, the RDA said daily penalties ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs20,000 may be imposed depending on the size of the scheme.
The RDA has also informed NAB, FIA, FIA Cyber Crime Wing, and SNGPL about the alleged online promotion of unapproved housing schemes. According to the authority, some projects were reportedly advertised through social media, WhatsApp, YouTube, and other platforms with claims of having RDA NOCs.
The latest action highlights the importance of verifying housing scheme approvals before investing, particularly when projects are promoted through online channels. Buyers are advised to check official records and obtain confirmation from the relevant development authority before entering into a property transaction.
