Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on the request of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has banned advertisements of illegal and unapproved private housing schemes on television channels.
According to Spokesman RDA Hafiz Irfan, all satellite TV channels, all FM radios and all distribution networks had been directed by PEMRA that no advertisement of unapproved and illegal housing schemes located in Rawalpindi district would be aired.
He informed that some 134 schemes and housing projects within the limits of District Council Rawalpindi were unapproved and illegal whereas some 88 illegal and unapproved schemes were operating in RDA’s own limits.
“Similarly, 57 schemes and housing projects are either unapproved or illegal in tehsil Murree while 28 schemes and housing projects are illegal within Tehsil Taxila. Eight housing projects are unapproved and illegal in Tehsil Gujar Khan and three housing projects in limits of Tehsil Kotli Sattian are unapproved and illegal,” the spokesperson added.
He said the director general (DG) of RDA had written letters to PEMRA, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), District Collector Rawalpindi, and Commissioner Islamabad requesting them to block the bank accounts and social media accounts of the owners of the illegal housing societies across the district.
The civic body was taking steps against the unauthorised housing schemes following increasing complaints from the citizens as such housing societies had been mushrooming in the district while their owners were also involved advertising their illegal housing societies on TV channels and social media.
He advised the general public not to make any investment in the illegal housing schemes, and warned the owners to immediately stop activities to market their unapproved housing schemes and contact the RDA for getting approval of the schemes otherwise strict legal action would be taken against them.
He said the DG RDA had directed the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering Directorate to take strict action against unauthorized housing schemes, and close down their construction projects, commercial activities, and booking offices.
