Regularization of Irregular Housing Schemes Ordinance 2021

Regulatory Objectives

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has enacted regulations governing private housing schemes titled “The Punjab Commission for Regularization of Irregular Housing Schemes Ordinance 2021” to build customer trust. It appears to be an active step in cracking down on illegal housing projects in Punjab Province. The Commission wants to investigate the violation. Through this regulation, the authorities have conveyed that illegal housing projects will no longer be tolerated in the province and take decisive legal action against all illegal housing societies.

What is meant by Irregular Housing Schemes?

Irregular housing scheme means a private housing scheme or a land sub-division or a built-up area that has been developed or a part of which is being developed or sold without the approval of the competent authority or in violation of the approved layout plan or the applicable laws or with the approval of the authority not competent to approve the housing scheme. Therefore, it is essential today to scrutinise and regulate to gain more trust from real estate investors & clients.

Establishment of an Active & Experienced Commission

The 2021 Planning Act constitutes a strong, experienced and knowledgeable committee. The composition of the committee is as follows.

• President: Former judge of the Supreme Court or High Court of Pakistan.
• Urban Planner with at least 20 years of experience.
• Civil Engineer with at least 20 years of experience and accreditation by a national or international professional association.
• Environmentalists with more than 20 years of experience.
• Legal expert with at least 20 years of experience in applicable law.
• Any other expert in the relevant profession in the public or private sector (co-opted by the Commission).

This mandated and experienced Commission will play a key role in regulating the irregular housing schemes in Punjab and speeding up the legalisation process.

The Commission will have the power to impose fines, recommend disciplinary action against officials and officials responsible for establishing irregular private housing schemes, regulate inappropriate land use, and recommend changes to applicable laws and regulations.

Role of Development Authorities & Local Government

The local government or development authority is responsible for providing secretarial support to the Commission and creating & submitting a database of irregular housing schemes. This support will make it easier for the Commission to identify its authority regarding housing projects.

Violation Fines against Irregular Housing Schemes

Violation fines against Irregular housing schemes will be in the following cases:

• Improper land use
• Lack of parks, open spaces or public buildings
• Missing graveyard
• Access road width is less than the required planning standard
• Internal road width is less than the specified standards

Summary

The government will not tolerate illegal housing scheme projects, and it’s being done to boost the real estate sector. The good news is that the government wants to regulate rather than ban illegal housing projects. It will undoubtedly increase customer trust. Both domestic and foreign investors are sure to show greater confidence in real estate following the completion of the irregular housing schemes ordinance 2021, enacted to establish commissions for housing projects in Punjab.

Rs6.5b released to buy land for Ring Road

By Zarkon Group,14/10/2020

To get the long-planned, 65 kilometre-long Rawalpindi Ring Road project off the ground, Rs6.5b released to buy land for Ring Road by the government.

This was disclosed by the Punjab Project Management Unit (PMU) Deputy Director M Abdullah on Sunday.

He said that the proposed project includes the construction of industrial zones as well as a health city, dry port, bus and truck terminals and theme parks.

In a detailed presentation to traders of the city as part of a briefing session on the Ring Road at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), the deputy director said that a proposal for rapid rail transit was also under consideration in the project.

He assured that suggestions of the stakeholders will be shared with the relevant officials so that they can be incorporated into the project.

RCCI President Nasir Mirza said that the project can prove to be a game-changer for Rawalpindi as the proposed industrial zones can turn the city into a hub of trade activities.

The stakeholders, he said, should be taken on board while finalizing the allocation for and demarcation of industrial zones, he added. The RCCI president further emphasized that this was an important project for the development of Rawalpindi and should be completed on priority.

If you enjoyed this story, check out Punjab Govt approves Rawalpindi Ring Road Project

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The post Rs6.5b released to buy land for Ring Road appeared first on The Express Tribune October 12th, 2020

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Economic Zones along Ring Road approved

By Zarkon Group,18/09/2020

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday approved setting up of economic zones along Ring Road which will be controlled by the civic body’s zoning regulations.

This was decided at the 49th governing body meeting of the RDA which was presided over by its chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza.

Though the Punjab government has yet to start the process to procure land for the proposed Ring Road Project, the RDA governing body declared the area along the Ring Road as city limits.

Under the plan, Punjab government will execute the project through Lahore Ring Road Authority instead of Rawalpindi Development Authority. It has already notified Rawalpindi’s commissioner as project director.

Zones will be controlled by the civic body’s regulations

A formal notification for setting up of the economic zones will be issued by the Punjab government.

Future construction activities within these zones would be controlled in accordance with the principles of town planning and zoning regulations, the governing body said.

The governing body also approved RDA City, a 3,000-kanal residential project.

The project will be LDA-style and for this purpose governing body has made a five-member technical committee under the supervision of MPA Latasub Satti.

The committee will compile its report on the acquisition of land for RDA City project and other matters within fifteen days.

A short-term consultancy was also approved for this housing project to prepare a feasibility report aimed at identifying location suitable for the construction of RDA City.

The RDA director general presented each agenda before the governing body. Agenda items in detail were approved after questions and answers from various members.

Feasibility study for construction of metropolis zone along with New Islamabad Airport was also approved.

Besides this, hiring of a survey company was also approved which would determine encroachments along Leh Expressway.

Approval was also given to construct buildings on RDA approved commercial roads in accordance with the new building bye-laws so that the construction industry could flourish.

If you enjoyed this story, check out Punjab Govt approves Rawalpindi Ring Road Project

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Land acquisition for Ring Road to begin by end of the week: RDA Chairman

By Zarkon Group,10/09/2020

Land acquisition for the Rs 52 million Ring Road project will begin by the end of the week, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Mahmood Murtaza said on Tuesday.

“The mega project is being launched by the PTI government to ease traffic, control urbanisation and shift small industrial units outside the city under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a private public partnership basis,” he said at a press briefing at the RDA offices.

In addition to Mr Murtaza, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood, Wasa director admin and RDA deputy director finance Mohammad Junaid Taj Bhatti, RDA Director Planning Mohammad Ijaz and other RDA and Wasa officials attended the briefing.

Mr Murtaza said that since taking charge as RDA chairman, he has been trying to provide public service facilities.

“In order to make this effort a reality, standard operating procedure (SOP) has been set up to approve building plans within 30 days, change of land use approval within 45 days, approval of housing schemes within 75 days, digitisation and record scanning started to save office records and construction of one window has also started,” he said.

Rawalpindi Ring Road Project is being launched to ease traffic, control urbanisation and shift small industrial units outside the city.

According to SOP, building plan approvals began on July 1, the RDA chairman said that 135 building plans were submitted in the last two months of which 117 were residential and 18 commercial.

He added that the RDA has fixed a period of 30 days but has managed to approve 50pc of the building plans in half the time. Two applications for change of land use have been received have been approved.

“The RDA has earned Rs30 million in these two months. The early approval of the building plans has created confidence among the people. The people-friendly atmosphere will be further improved in the coming days and more facilities will be given to the people,” he said.

“We are also trying to bring maps, housing schemes and other services online so that the applicant can stay home,” he said.

On illegal housing societies, Mr Murtaza said that the RDA would take action and move the courts against illegal housing societies that did not obtain no-objection certificates from the RDA but launched print, electronic and social media campaigns featuring celebrities from within the country and abroad.

About Wasa, he said that floods came all over the country, but the Wasa managing director’s strategy and his personal interest kept a flood-like situation from emerging in Rawalpindi.

He said in the past, casualties including the loss of life and property, had occurred but not a single person died because of Leh Nullah this monsoon.

Mr Mehmood from Wasa said the agency launched its One Link bill payment service for the convenience of its customers, who can now pay their water bills through any bank’s ATM machine as well as using internet banking and mobile banking applications.

He said that with the signing of the online agreement, the online bank transaction will be transferred to Wasa’s accounts immediately, leaving no possibility for error.

If you enjoyed this story, check out Punjab Govt approves Rawalpindi Ring Road Project

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The post Land acquisition for Ring Road to begin by end of the week: RDA Chairman appeared first on Dawn News September 10th, 2020

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