$4 Billion Irregularities Detected in 41 Pindi Housing Projects

PKONWEB Report – Massive irregularities have been found in 41 private housing schemes of Rawalpindi, according to a report prepared by the auditor-general of Pakistan (AGP).

The damning report uncovered irregularities of almost $4 billion, according to Samaa TV.

Carried out by the country’s federal’s audit agency, the report states that a loss of more than $2.14 billion to the national exchequer took place due to illegal construction of buildings by these housing schemes.

Bahria Town was identified as one of the three dozen and more housing projects in the garrison city which exceeded regulatory thresholds.

The development comes as a major international property investment company announced plans to invest 500 million pounds in Pakistan’s real estate sector. After Islamabad, the London-based Daniel Johns Group will also venture into real estate development in Lahore and Gwadar and introduce its successful worldwide premium food franchise business across the country by the end of next year, says a press release issued in April.

The British-headquartered group has launched its Ce-La-Vi development in capital Islamabad, promising to build iconic and first-class luxury apartments, penthouses and commercial shops.

The capital is considered a prime locale for the upscale and overseas Pakistanis.

According to the audit report, construction has been illegally carried out on 3,026 kanal of prime land instead of the allotted 648 kanal, the report states.

The illegal approval of these housing projects has caused a loss of $1.49 billion, it says, adding that the housing projects have been given non-residential areas. These schemes have illegally encroached upon land meant for public spaces, graveyards and parks, the report said.

Earlier in September 2018, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) declared six housing schemes illegal and directed owners of the schemes to stop advertisement and development. Notices were issued to CPEC Resort, Abdullah City, Khanial Homes, Bin Alam City, extension of the Capital Smart City and the Blue World City.

Following housing projects were recently audited by AGP which found irregularities:It identified them as:

Faisal Town Housing Scheme
Commoners Sky Garden
Northern Area Resident Cooperative Housing Society
Pakistan Overseas Housing Scheme
Fizaia Housing Scheme
T&T Housing Society
Railway Employees Cooperative Housing Society
Bostan Avenue Housing Society
Ternol Housing Society
Khudad City Housing Society
Top City Housing Society
Clifton Town
Bahria Town Phase VIII
Foreign Office Employees Housing Scheme
Municipal Corporation Housing Scheme
Safari Villas I Housing Scheme
Doctor’s Town
Central Board of Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Scheme
Sonobar City Housing Scheme
PIA Housing Scheme
PARC Employees Cooperative Housing Scheme
Safari Villa II Housing Scheme
Kehkashan Town
Garden Villas Housing Scheme
Bahria Paradise Housing Scheme
Rabia Bungalows Village
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Employees Housing Society
Judicial Housing Scheme
Gulshan-e-Abad Housing Society
Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Scheme
Up-Country Housing Scheme
Kohsaar Housing Scheme
East Ridge Housing Scheme
Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Scheme
Gulshan-e-Fatima Housing Scheme
Mumtaz City Housing Scheme
Al-Shifa Housing Scheme
Bahria Town Phase I,II and III
University Town Housing Scheme
Army Welfare Housing Scheme Rawalpindi
Agosh Housing Scheme Rawalpindi

Back in July, the RDA had declared 31 housing schemes in its limits illegal and advised the citizens not to invest in them. These housing schemes were: Jinnah Town, Airport Employees Cooperative Housing society, Gulshan-i-Ali, Janjua Town 1, Janjua Town II, Janjua Town III, Khayaban-i-Millat, Rasool Town, National Town, Khayaban-i-Quaid, T&T Housing Society, OGDC Town, Hamza Town, Sanghar Town, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Fazal Town phase II, Gulberg Town, Lake Vista Residential Rawal City, Palm City, Jabbar City, Usman Block, Jubilee Town, Lawyers Town, Radio Colony, Federation of Employees Cooperate Housing Society, Samarzar Housing Project, Gulraiz Housing Scheme, Metro Homes, Babar Homes, Paras Villas and Al-Falah Homes.

In a report on December 28, it was revealed that 43 housing societies were constructed in Islamabad without CDA’s approval. These Societies in Zone-5 are: