GDA seals two ‘illegal’ buildings

ABBOTTABAD: The Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) has sealed two illegally constructed buildings in Tajwal and Kuzagali as part of its crackdown on unauthorised construction, following directives from the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Officials termed it a major step in the province-wide anti-encroachment campaign aimed at safeguarding tourist destinations.

The sealed properties include Falletties, owned by Shaukat Ali, and a 12-storey building owned by Mehmood Ali. The officials said that both the projects were initiated without mandatory approval of building plans, in violation of the GDA Act, 2016 (Amended 2020) and the Building Control Regulations, 2020. Despite repeated notices, they said, the owners failed to comply, compelling the authority to act under Section 24 of the GDA Act.

An inspection conducted by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) highlighted multiple violations, including deviations from approved designs, absence of parking access ramps, unlawful conversion of structural floors into habitable spaces, exceeding the permissible covered area, and addition of unauthorized floors.

The GDA has directed the owners to rectify these violations within 15 days and submit both a Structural Stability Certificate and a Soil Investigation Report. Failure to comply will invite further action under Section 26 of the GDA Act, which carries penalties of up to Rs2 million, three years’ imprisonment, or both. Reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on illegal construction, the GDA stressed that such measures are crucial for public safety and the sustainable development of the Galiyat region.

Meanwhile, locals as well as environmentalists have repeatedly voiced concern over the unchecked rise of high-rise buildings, warning that they are not only endanger tourist safety but also mar the region’s beauty.