RAWALPINDI, Oct 7: The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) is perhaps waiting for a Karachi-like inferno to start taking action against illegal factories operating in the residential areas and violating all rules and regulations.

Under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, no business activity can be carried out in housing colonies and the town municipal administration (TMA) officer is bound to ensure a healthy atmosphere for the citizens.

Around 130 illegal factories are functioning in various residential areas of the city, out of which 40 are located in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Bagh Sardaran and Bangash Colony (Khyaban-i-Iqbal).

Illegal businesses such as recycling of plastic, leather refining and scrap-trade are rampant in Khayaban-i-Sir Syed which, if immediate actions are not taken, may trigger an untoward incident.

In a written complaint to the Punjab chief minister and the departments concerned, residents of Khayaban-i-Iqbal said they feared an outbreak of asthma and infernos akin to those in Lahore and Karachi.

Malik Asif Akbar, former naib nazim of the area, alleged that the residential area was being used for commercial purposes in connivance with the TMA staff. He said the factories were not registered with any government department such as the provincial labour department, Civil Defence Department or Workers Welfare Board.

Javed and Haider, who live near shoe factories and scrap godowns, complained that smoke from the factories entered their houses causing asthma among their children.

Former town member of Rawal Town Council Shahida Shabbir asked the district coordination officer (DCO) to take notice of the issue and clear the residential area of these illegal businesses.

No official of the town municipal administration was available to comment on the issue. However, another official, on condition of anonymity, admitted mushroom growth of illegal factories in housing societies. He said the DCO had directed the departments to shift factories from residential areas to the industrial zone and to ensure appropriate safety measures. — APP