RDA to regulate private housing societies in the district of Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and the District Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 5 to strengthen the regulation of private housing societies in Rawalpindi, as reported in the national dailies.

Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, Deputy Commissioner and Administrator of the District Council, convened a meeting last week to discuss the rapid growth of housing societies and to guarantee effective regulation of private housing societies in the district. According to the specifics, the RDA will be in charge of administering and regulating private housing societies and issuing building permits in the district. This decision was made to consolidate authority and regulatory functions within a single governmental organization.

A five-member committee comprised of RDA, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, and District Council representatives has been constituted to finalize the details of this arrangement. The primary objective is to establish the terms and conditions for transferring from the District Council to the RDA the responsibilities associated with the regulation of private housing societies in Rawalpindi and Building Control.

To facilitate a smooth transition and assure effective regulation, the Rawalpindi District Council will provide the RDA with the necessary data and personnel. As delegated by the District Council administrator, the RDA will officially undertake responsibility for managing and regulating private housing societies in local government areas beginning on June 25.

Notably, until the MOU is finalized, the RDA lacks the legal authority to supervise private housing societies in the district or take legal action against any illegal societies, schemes, or constructions. Nonetheless, Section 23 of the Local Government Act of 2022 clarifies that the local government may delegate its functions to the development authority, thereby empowering the RDA to regulate private housing societies.