On the special directives of Director General (DG) Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Capt. (R) Tahir Zafar Abbasi, RDA has requested Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to issue direction to private TV channels to stop airing advertisements of illegal housing societies that are operating without getting No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the authorities concerned.According to RDA spokesman the authority had also written letters to Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Chairman NAB, Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Cyber Crime Islamabad, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Islamabad, SNGPL Islamabad, District Collector Rawalpindi, District Council Rawalpindi and Commissioner Islamabad requesting them to freeze bank accounts and block social media accounts including WhatsApp, YouTube and others being used by the owners and administration of the illegal housing societies of the district.
He said that the civic body following the increased number of complaints against administration of illegal housing societies, looting the public through advertisements on TV channels and social media had taken concrete steps to save the innocent citizens from such elements.
The spokesman said the illegal and unauthorized housing societies have been mushrooming in the district while their owners were also involved in promoting their illegal business through advertisements about the housing societies on TV channels and social media.
He said the DG RDA had advised the citizens not to invest in illegal housing societies.The administration of illegal housing projects had also been warned to stop marketing their unapproved and illegal housing schemes and should contact RDA for getting NOC and formal approval of the schemes as per law otherwise; strict legal action would be taken against the rules violators.The DG RDA had directed the MP&TE directorate to take strict action against illegal and unauthorized housing schemes, constructions and commercial activities, booking offices and encroachments without any discrimination, he added.
