Cases of 109 illegal housing schemes referred for action

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Monday informed that cases of 109 illegal housing societies have been referred to National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for formal investigation and appropriate action.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) high officail apprised the committee that they conducted meetings with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Islamabad Electric Supply Company Organization (IESCO) and Pakistan Tele Communication Limited (PTCL) officials and requested that no new connection be issued at all these societies.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi said establishment of such a large number of housing societies is not possible without involvement of certain officials.
He said Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is not a very large area in terms of management and supervision. "It is negligence on part of concerned authorities as there has been mushroom growth of illegal housing schemes", he added.
CDA officials informed that plots of these unauthorized schemes are registered and transferred through ICT administration so they have no record of sale/purchase of these plots.
They requested the committee that there is a need of amendment in the rules so that no transfer is held without CDA approval in order to maintain record and check this illegal business.
The Senators said: "We have lost almost 30 percent of ICT land through such fraudulent schemes and there is a need to take appropriate steps at the earliest to save remaining 70 percent land."
Secretary Law, Justice and Human Rights Muhammad Raza Khan suggested that CDA should acquire maximum land and allow cultivation afterwards to check its use in any illegal activity.
The committee was also informed by an official that CDA had shut down 60 high profile restaurants, beauty parlors etc. running in domestic areas of the capital.
The impact of this operation was so strong that almost 100 other commercial outlets opted for closing business on their own in domestic areas.
"The operation is going on and we would target guest houses, private offices, schools and shops", he said adding that due to documentation and other formalities, they are taking field action twice a week.
Earlier discussing agenda of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)'s action against unhygienic and unregistered products, the committee was informed that 37 mandatory food items are notified under Section 14.
The authority officials informed that in 2009-10 their Lahore office took action against 11 items, seven items by Karachi office, while from 2013-15 Lahore issued notices to 11 items, 15 items by Rawalpindi office and 28 offices by Karachi office.
The committee members suggested that CCTV cameras should be installed in food plants so that any tempering in expiry date was monitored.
They also recommended to increase fine and punishment for those involved in unhygienic food products as they are playing with the health of people.
The meeting was attended by Senator Saleem Zia, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Senator Najma Hameed, Senator Samina Abid and Senator Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi, Secretary Ministry of Law Justice and Human Rights, officials of CDA, ICT, PSQCA etc.