ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Office has expressed serious concerns over non-compliance of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directives regarding illegal housing societies cropping up near the Islamabad International Airport (IIA).

The Ministry of Housing and Works, which was appointed as the coordinator by the prime minister to deal with the matter, in a letter addressed to development agencies asked them to submit a compliance report within a week.

In the letter dated Dec 11, the ministry of housing conveyed to the agencies Prime Minister Office’s concerns over non-compliance of the directives issued on Aug 8, 2019.

According to the letter, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other departments were supposed to submit a compliance report within a month.

Housing ministry asks development agencies to submit compliance report within a week

“Unfortunately, it is regretted that no progress has been made so far,” the housing ministry’s letter said, adding all the concerned departments are informed in their interest to implement the prime minister’s directives and send a compliance report to the ministry of housing within one week for onward submission to the Prime Minister Office.

“It is emphasised that after one week, Ministry of Housing and Works will be forced to report non-implementing department to the PM office for further necessary action,” read the letter addressed to the chief secretary and the secretary home department, Punjab, the CDA and RDA chairmen and the chief commissioners Islamabad.

Sources in the ministry of housing said the federal cabinet at a meeting on July 30, 2019, discussed the issue when concerns regarding development of housing schemes around the IIA were raised by ministers.

The sources said while agreeing with the views of the cabinet members, the prime minister expressed his displeasure on the lax regulatory control of the developments concerned in the province and the federal capital territory respectively in arresting the trend of illegal growth of housing projects/schemes both in terms of approved urban development policy matrix and to save ordinary people from fraud.

The sources said the prime minister had directed the departments concerned that master plans of all metropolitan and major cities be finalised at the earliest.

Besides, strict enforcement measures should be taken against illegal housing societies and projects in the provinces and Islamabad.

The prime minister had also directed that all development agencies shall publish lists of illegal housing projects and societies for the information of the citizens.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister retired Brig Ijaz Ahmed Shah on Monday chaired a meeting to discuss the rising number of commercial and residential projects in the surrounding of the IIA.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, after the meeting the minister insisted on regulating the system of residential and commercial projects surrounding the airport.

The meeting was attended by administration officials from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and representatives of the Aviation Division.

“Having developmental projects is progressive but there has to be a proper mechanism to execute the idea. There should not be any compensation when it comes to countering the encroachment issue,” the minister said, adding it was very important to ensure that these projects contributed to the overall well-being and progress of the country.

“All stakeholders must ensure that no rules are violated,” he said.

During the meeting, officials from the Rawalpindi administration, RDA and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation briefed the minister on progress regarding anti-encroachment drive and problems they were facing.

The minister appreciated the work done by the administration to counter the problems. He said any assistance needed from the centre to deal with encroachment issues would be provided.

The Rawalpindi administration informed the minister that in order to keep track of construction activities around the airport and other areas a software would be used to improve monitoring and efficiency of the process.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019