Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Development Authority has reopened the city’s only multi storey parking plaza at Fawara Chowk after a 20 day closure caused by unpaid dues totaling Rs 48.2 million.
The authority has taken direct control of the facility and introduced a self collection system, under which RDA staff will manage daily parking operations and collect revenue directly.
According to official sources, the previous contractor had failed to clear outstanding payments for seven consecutive months. The dispute later reached court, where the contractor reportedly offered to pay Rs 15 million. The RDA rejected the proposal and maintained that the full outstanding amount must be paid.
The parking plaza was sealed on July 12. Although the authority subsequently secured a court ruling in its favour, the facility remained closed for 20 days, resulting in an estimated daily revenue loss of more than Rs 100,000.
The closure also created considerable difficulties for motorists and traders in the heavily congested Fawara Chowk area, as the plaza is Rawalpindi’s only purpose built multi storey parking facility.
The facility resumed operations on August 1. To strengthen financial oversight and ensure timely transfer of collected revenue into the authority’s accounts, the RDA has established a Vigilance and Revenue Collection Committee.
Officials said the new arrangement is intended to improve transparency, prevent revenue leakage and ensure more effective management of the parking facility.
The authority has also decided to award the parking contract through an open auction scheduled for August 17. The bidding process is expected to introduce a new operator under revised terms and stronger monitoring mechanisms.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued show cause notices to the owners and developers of 13 illegal and unapproved housing schemes and land subdivisions for allegedly carrying out unauthorized development, advertising, plot bookings, and sales without obtaining the required legal approvals.
The notices were issued by the Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate as part of the authority's ongoing campaign against illegal housing developments operating within the Rawalpindi region.
According to the RDA, the housing schemes were found to be in violation of Section 12(5) of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, and Rule 4 of the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Scheme Rules, 2021. The authority stated that the developers had initiated various activities without securing the mandatory approvals and no objection certificates (NOCs) required under the law.
The RDA has directed the owners and sponsors of the schemes to immediately stop all development work, marketing campaigns, plot bookings, and sale and purchase activities. They have also been instructed to submit written explanations within seven days of receiving the notices.
The authority warned that failure to respond within the stipulated period could result in further legal proceedings under the applicable laws. It also cautioned that daily fines ranging from PKR 5,000 to PKR 20,000 may be imposed under Section 37 of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, depending on the size and nature of the housing scheme.
In addition, the RDA advised members of the public to exercise caution before investing in any housing project. Prospective buyers have been urged to verify the legal approval status of housing schemes through the relevant authorities before making any financial commitments.
The authority further instructed the sponsors of unapproved housing projects to immediately discontinue promotional and marketing activities and complete all legal requirements, including obtaining the necessary approvals and NOCs, before launching or selling their schemes.
RDA Director General Salman Ghani directed the MP&TE Directorate to continue strict enforcement against illegal housing schemes and other unauthorized development activities, reaffirming the authority's commitment to protecting public interests and ensuring planned urban development across Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has reaffirmed its commitment to compensating all landowners affected by the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, assuring that no eligible property owner will be deprived of compensation for land acquired for the strategically significant 38.5-kilometre transport corridor.
The assurance was conveyed by Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Engineer Qamarul Islam during a meeting with a delegation representing affected landowners. The delegation expressed concern over delays in the compensation process, stating that awards for several acquired land parcels have yet to be issued despite substantial progress on the project.
According to representatives of the landowners, the project has involved the acquisition of hundreds of kanals of land owned by nearly 200 individuals in each of seven long established settlements situated along the route. They said that while land acquisition has already taken place, compensation in certain areas remains unresolved, creating uncertainty for the affected families.
Responding to the concerns, Engineer Qamarul Islam assured the delegation that all legitimate claims would be honoured. He stated that the concerns raised by the landowners, along with the relevant documentation and details, have already been forwarded to the Punjab government and the Office of the Rawalpindi Commissioner for necessary action.
The affected landowners have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Rawalpindi commissioner to accelerate the compensation process so that all outstanding claims are settled before the formal inauguration of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which is expected on August 14.
Separately, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Raja Ilyas Kayani announced that a delegation representing the affected landowners will travel to Lahore to meet the Punjab chief secretary. The meeting is expected to focus on resolving the remaining compensation issues and ensuring timely payments to all eligible landowners.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road is considered one of Punjab's flagship infrastructure projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving regional connectivity and supporting urban and economic development around the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The road has already been linked with the motorway network to facilitate smoother traffic movement. However, construction of the Thalian Interchange, a key component of the project, is still under way and has yet to be completed.