Commercial use of PHA flats goes on unchecked

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: The commercial use of Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) residential apartments is going unchecked right under the nose of the authorities concerned.

Constructed in G-7/1 near Zero Point, the B-type flats were allotted to the low-paid group six years ago on the condition that they won’t be used for commercial purposes.

However, contrary to the guidelines almost half of the allottees are running their businesses in these flats. Most of the units are now occupied by property consultants, overseas employment promoters, fright forwarding agents, media companies and other similar business groups. Today, the rent of a flat is higher by Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 than the rent of a same category flat in G-8/4.

Muhammad Zubair, who is running his marketing business in his flat, told APP that he had shifted his business to the area for multiple reasons: First, the area was secure compared with the other commercial areas; second, he had to pay less for a spacious accommodation; and third he had full freedom to use the premises for commercial purposes without paying taxes.

OPF housing scheme: Over 30 percent development work on Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Zone-V, Phase-II, has been completed and the remaining will be soon.

Talking to APP here on Monday, Iftikhar Ahmed, joint director (Estates), said in Zone-V valley, 5000 Kanal land had been purchased and divided in plots.

He said 974 plots of 355 yards, 859 plots of 600 yards, 177 plots of 1000 yards, 36 plots of 2000 yards and 100 kanals had been reserved for commercial purposes. app