MURREE, Dec 15: The committee, formed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to investigate the illegal construction activity during the last eight years, submitted its report to the Supreme Court as well as the chief minister.

The committee comprised Executive District Officer (EDO) and Services Hafizabad Chaudhry Ghazanfar, District Officer Roads Jhelum Malik Riaz, Design Engineer Planning and Works Lahore Tahir Hamid, Assistant Director Local Government Rawalpindi Allah Ditta and Deputy Director Housing Kotli Sattian Mr. Satti.

This was stated by Tehsil Officer Revenue Imran Khan Niazi.

According to the term of references (TOR), the committee was to investigate the details of the approved maps between September 2003 and December 2006, details of the violations of the maps from 2001 to August 2008, physically check the buildings, detect violation of by-laws, partial violation of by-laws and suggest remedies for the illegally-constructed buildings.

According to the report 105 buildings were declared illegal and dangerous. As many as 38 were very dangerous and the committee suggested that they be demolished, 39 buildings were constructed without any map (approved and not approved) and 65 were constructed illegally. The committee suggested that first these illegal buildings should be razed.

The tehsil officer revenue, Mr Niazi, said no technical committee had so far been established to physically examine and check the quality of work carried out on the buildings.

He suggested that those owners of illegal or dangerous buildings, who could produce certificates from the universities of engineering and technology, Taxila and Lahore, and Nespak should be fined and the illegal portion of the building be legalised.

Mr Niazi said the report had been submitted to the Supreme Court which would now decide on the demolition of the illegal buildings.

It is mentioned here that a large number of illegal buildings were constructed during the last eight years with the connivance of the staff and authorities of TMA.

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