Rawalpindi: Ban imposed on registration of plots in unregistered housing societies

[Naveed Yaseen]

Khalid Iqbal

The Revenue Department has imposed a ban on registration of plots in unregistered housing societies in Rawalpindi district, as many people having no knowledge about the authenticity of schemes were falling prey to the ‘land mafia’.

Unregistered or illegal private housing schemes have become a big problem for those who want to own a house. More than 40 unauthorised housing schemes exist in the jurisdictions of Potohar Town and Rawalpindi Development Authority.

According to a land survey conducted by the District Revenue Field Staff, seven approved, 4 under process and 18 illegal schemes exist in the jurisdiction of Potohar Town. As many as 32 approved, 5 under process and 22 illegal or unapproved schemes are in the Rawalpindi Development Authority jurisdiction.

In a high-level meeting here on Tuesday chaired by Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Captain ® Zahid Saeed, the Revenue Department also banned transfer of land in both legal and illegal private housing schemes till completion of the scrutiny. The decision to this effect was taken on public complaints.

People alleged that ‘land mafia’ with the help of concerned departments was taking full advantage of the situation to mint money.

Around 70% people settled in Rawalpindi for years are living in rented houses and paying heavy amounts as rent every month.

The owners of houses, taking full advantage of the situation, increase rents of their houses every year. Against this backdrop, people living in rented houses dream of owning a house of their own. For this purpose, they turn to housing schemes or societies to have their own house. They book plots. Some pay total amount, some buy plots in installments, but in the end they get nothing except for disappointment. When they contact the Revenue Department to lodge complaints, they are asked whether the society or scheme is registered or unregistered and they have no answer to this question.

District Officer Revenue (DOR) and In-Charge of Land Related Problems Muhammad Arshad Warraich, when contacted by ‘The News,’ admitted the fact that several private housing societies were functioning illegally. He said that people have been suffering for years due to illegal private housing societies. He said that some concerned departments are also responsible for this situation as they give approval for development of such schemes without checking or verifying their authenticity.

He said that there should be a ‘compact block’ of the housing society before issuance of planning permission. He said that clients could not find their plots according to ‘khasra’ numbers due to scattered land of housing societies. The second main defect is that the land for essential services like roads, mosques and parks remain in the name of developers, which they sell to people afterwards.

The district officer revenue claimed that they are taking action against unregistered private housing schemes.

Reliable sources informed ‘The News’ that ‘land mafia’ is active in Rawalpindi in connivance with the Revenue Department officials. The genuine owners could not get plots because they were sold again and again, they added.

Some affected people told ‘The News’ that despite paying full amount they could not get possession of their plots.

Asma Saeed, an affected woman, said that how a common man could probe whether the housing society is registered or unregistered.

Mumtaz Hussain Shah, living in a rented house, said that he was paying Rs7,500 rent every month. According to him, he had booked a five-marla plot in a private housing society along Adiala Road and paid all installments but still he could not get possession of his plot.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=209191