Senate committee concerned over mushroom growth of illegal housing schemes

Islamabad
Senate Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Monday expressed concern over the mushroom growth of illegal housing schemes established around Islamabad and directed Capital Development Authority and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to immediately halt any further activity in these societies till further decision on their status.
The CDA Member Planning informed the committee that there are 109 such schemes in Islamabad with 16 in Zone 3 which enjoys the status of National Park and the cases of these schemes have been forwarded to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for appropriate action. In addition, the CDA has conducted meetings with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) and Pakistan Tele Communication Limited (PTCL) officials to stop issuance of any further connections to these societies.
They informed that Islamabad has lost 30 per cent of its vacant land to these fraud schemes and concrete steps are required to save the remaining 70 per cent.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi said that establishment of this large number of housing societies could not be possible without the involvement of authorities.
CDA officials informed that plots of these unauthorised schemes are registered and transferred through ICT administration. They suggested amendment in rules so that no transfer would be held without the consent of CDA.
Secretary Law, Justice and Human Rights Muhammad Raza Khan suggested that CDA should buy land to avoid such issues. He said that the land in those schemes has been sold to multiple parties and stressed the need to protect buyers as they should not be punished for the fault of others.
The committee was also informed that CDA has shut down 60 high profile restaurants, beauty parlors etc. running in domestic areas of the capital. As a result, almost 100 other commercial outlets closed their businesses voluntarily. "The operation is going on and we plan to target guest houses, private offices, schools and shops in the next phase", said the CDA officials adding that gradually they will cover all of them.
Earlier, discussing agenda of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) action against unhygienic and unregistered products, the committee was informed that 37 mandatory food items are notified by the government under section 14.
The authority officials informed that from 2013-15, their Lahore office took action against 11 items, 15 items in Rawalpindi and 28 offices in Karachi. Senator Saif Ullah suggested installing CCTV cameras in food plants so that any tempering in expiry date of these items could not be possible.
The PSQCA officials told the committee that amendment to increase fine and punishment for those involved in unhygienic food products and also to clarify role of federal and provincial government in implementation is in the process. The committee chairman directed the PSQCA to prepare the draft legislation within one month and present it before the committee.
The meeting was attended by Senator Saleem Zia, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Senator Najma Hameed, Senator Samina Abid and Senator Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi, Secretary Ministry of Law Justice and Human Rights, officials of CDA, ICT, PSQCA etc.