Multan: The Multan Development Authority (MDA) allegedly failed to take timely action against Wapda Employees Cooperative Housing Society (WECHS)’s Phase III for not obtaining the required planning permission from the MDA, stated a news source.
Phase III of WECHS has been violating MDA rules for a year, but was only issued a show-cause notice on January 12 by MDA Deputy Director Urban Planning Mohsin Ali. The notice stated that the society had illegally commenced trading of plot files without the authority’s approval.
According to the news source, the society traded files without purchasing land and the number of files sold exceeded the amount of land acquired. Furthermore, irregularities were also noted in the procedure for the purchase of land.
In the past, the MDA has taken stern action against 39 other housing societies. They were declared illegal, their main gates were demolished along with other infrastructure, and their booking offices were sealed. However, two weeks have passed since the WECHS was issued a show-cause notice and no action has been taken against this particular society yet.
MDA Additional Director Altaf Hussain told reporters that action would be taken according to regulations and the director of urban town planning was looking into the issue.
MDA Director Chaudhary Abdul Ghaffar, however, claimed that the society did obtain preliminary planning permission for Phase III but was issued a show-cause notice for other irregularities for which action is being taken.
Ali clarified that WECHS did respond to the show-cause notice and assured the authority of full compliance to rules. Furthermore, as no main gate or infrastructure had been constructed in Phase III of the society, the authority could not demolish anything.
