RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned advertisements of illegal and unapproved private housing schemes on television channels following request of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)
According to RDA Spokesman Hafiz Irfan, the Pemra has directed all satellite TV channels, all FM radios and all distribution networks not to advertise unapproved and illegal housing schemes located in Rawalpindi district.
He informed that some 134 schemes and housing projects within the limits of District Council Rawalpindi are unapproved and illegal whereas some 88 illegal and unapproved schemes are 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 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.
