PDA notifies rules-of-operation for private housing schemes

Peshawar: The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) has notified its operational rules in a bid to regulate the affairs of the private housing schemes situated within the city, a news source reported. To facilitate this measure, it recently publicised The Peshawar Development Authority Private Housing Scheme Regulations, 2019, under Section 48 (A) of the PDA Act, 2017.

Prior to the introduction of this legal framework, these housing schemes were not properly managed. Under the new rules, all private housing schemes have to procure at least 100 kanals of land to commence with their development work, and provide all basic facilities of water, electricity, gas, sanitation, roads and parks. The PDA, in collaboration with a revenue officer, will confirm the ownership of land prior to the commencement of the development work.

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Other regulations introduced include:

• Obtaining a non-encumbrance certificate from the government to ensure the land is not allocated for any government project
• Access roads need to be at least 30ft wide
• Gaining approval from the provincial environmental protection agency to ensure the land is not prone to any environmental hazards
• Gaining approval on the development work from the provincial environmental protection agency that it will not cause environmental damage
• Leaving 2% land for graveyards, 7% for parks, 5% for commercial areas and 5% for public building development
• Reserving land for the development of a grid station
• Reserving 20% of the plots for low-income groups
• Residential plot sizes should range between 3 marla and 2 kanal
• Drainage system and sanitation plan should be designed by members of the Pakistan Engineering Council
• Submission of a solid waste management plan

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Moreover, the developer of a private housing scheme will now be required to submit a financial statement detailing the availability of sufficient funds required to commence with the development work. A planning committee of the PDA will then determine that the society meets the requirements of the National Reference Manual on planning and infrastructure standards.

If a developer initiates the development work or sale of land without the PDA’s approval, he will be liable to pay a fine of up to PKR 5 million, and face an imprisonment sentence of up to three years.