Islamabad: according to a news source, the Punjab government has given amnesty to thousands of illegal and fake housing schemes. A formal legal process is initiated to regularise them after the payment of small fines. An ordinance has promulgated by the government of Punjab to regularize the Illegal Housing Schemes (IHS).
Moreover, there are thousands of IHS are present across the country. Further, alone in Rawalpindi, many housing schemes are declared illegal by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). Hundreds of thousands of people have invested in such schemes.
Furthermore, the ordinance forms a commission to look into the matter regarding the regularization of housing schemes. Similarly, it will address the grievances of the affected people. Likewise, the commission’s expiry date is 1 year unless the government extends its term.
Likewise, the commission, “may after affording the opportunity of being heard to the applicant and the concerned local government or the development authority, regularise an irregular housing scheme subject to payment of such fines as may be imposed under this ordinance to be paid within such time as may be specified by it. In case of non-payment of the fine within the stipulated time, the regularisation order will cease to have its effect on the expiry of such time.”
For missing parks and open spaces violations, a fine of two times the value of the deficient land as per its residential value in the applicable valuation table will be payable.
Further, if the graveyard is missing, two times the value of the deficient land as per its residential value in the applicable valuation table fine will be imposed.
In case of unpaved roads, or the roads not according to the standard length and width will be widened according to the said standards. Moreover, in case of non-availability of land, a fine of three times the value of deficient land as per the applicable residential valuation table will be payable.
According to the ordinance, the government of Punjab can exempt any area of its provisions. “An IHS means a private housing scheme or a land subdivision or a built-up area which has been developed or a part of which is being developed or sold without the approval of competent authority or in violation of the approved layout plan or the applicable laws or with the approval of the authority not competent to clear them”.
A retired judge will chair the commission. And the chairperson will be appointed with the consultation of the Lahore High Court Chief Justice. Moreover, in the members, a town planner; a civil engineer; an environmental expert; a legal expert and any other expert of the relevant profession from the public or private sector will be included.
Also, the commission will be able to impose a fine upon the sponsors and the culprits even government officials who will be involved in the establishment of illegal housing schemes.
“In exercise of its functions, the commission may call for the record of any land from the relevant government agency; summon any officer of the relevant government agency to produce the requisite record, information and assistance; and summon the owners or developers of irregular housing schemes or the persons having an interest therein, or any other persons required for disposal of the matter under consideration”.
Similarly, the local government will be responsible to provide secretariat support to the commission. Further, the local government or development authority will be responsible to provide the record of every kind included the layout plans, previous, ongoing or under process projects. In case of non-availability of record, the local government will obtain the record from the developers and will be responsible to produce it before the commission. Also, it will be responsible to provide every information required to the commission.
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News source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/821091-punjab-to-regularise-illegal-housing-schemes
