Rawalpindi Town Municipal Administration (TMA) has declared about 200 buildings vulnerable and dangerous. These buildings pose a serious threat to the lives of the residents.
The TMA served final notices to the residents to vacate the buildings ahead of the monsoon season, warning that the buildings may collapse in the face of heavy rains. The residents have, however, ignored the notices and continue to reside in the rundown buildings, sources in the TMA told Pakistan Today.
According to sources, the local administration had also sought the help of police to vacate the dilapidated buildings. The police high-ups, however, refused to entertain their request, showing their inability to deal with such a huge number of cases.
According to sources, most buildings have either been rented out or their owners have locked them to avoid action from the local authorities.
According to sources, 23 buildings in Shah Chan Charagh, 22 in Bohar Abad, 12 in Nishtaar Abad, 9 in Peshawary Galli, eight each in Muhalah Waris Khan and Landa Bazaar, seven in Chattian Hattian, three on College Road, two each in Talwaran Bazzar, Mochi Bazaar and Dakki Muhallah, one each in Raja Bazaar, Qallan Bazaar, Chachhi Muhallah, Iqbal Road Jamia Mosque area and Chun Bazaar have been declared unsafe.
According to TMA sources, the owners are reminded every year about the threat posed by the dilapidated buildings, but they continue to ignore the warning. Sources claimed that this time the TMA decided to take legal action against the buildings’ owners as well as the residents to get them vacated. A few days ago, the TMA administration had written a letter to the SP Rawal division for the registration of cases against recalcitrant owners, but the police officer refused to oblige the request, the sources added.