Rawalpindi: A unit of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has launched its investigation into three housing societies situated in Kallar Kahar for their alleged involvement in environmental degradation practices, according to a news source. As per officials, this probe will look into the illegal construction reported in these societies located near the tourist areas of Kallar Kahar. This construction activity has wiped away the green cover and damaged the mountainside of a significant area in the scenic tourist town, they added.
Punjab Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) Director Gohar Nafees recently took notice of this issue and formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the matter. This JIT is headed by Rawalpindi ACU Director Arif Raheem and includes Chakwal Deputy Director Abdul Rehman and office bearer Hafiz Qadeer as its member. As part of its probe, the team seized the records of these illegal societies and summoned the relevant officials.
The three societies under questions span 2,045, 322 and 4,943 kanals, respectively. The developers of these societies had commenced with the construction work without obtaining the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs), or having acquired them through unscrupulous means. Moreover, the district council did not approve the maps for two of these projects. Nafees stated that the team would recommend appropriate action against the culprits following the investigation completion.
