News
RDA Demolishes Illegal Development at Three Sites in Morgah, Rawalpindi
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
The Rawalpindi Development Authority has carried out a fresh enforcement operation against illegal housing and development activity at three separate locations in Morgah, demolishing illegally constructed roads, infrastructure, manholes, sewerage pipelines, and barriers built without approval.
Where the Action Took Place
The operation covered Downtown Morgah on Defence Road opposite Askari 14, a land subdivision near Dhok Nawaz Graveyard, and an illegal housing scheme at Riaz Chowk, Morgah. Rather than issuing notices and waiting for voluntary compliance, RDA teams moved directly to demolish physical infrastructure already laid at the sites, a meaningfully more concrete step than the warning notices the authority has issued in earlier phases of its enforcement drive against unapproved housing schemes.
The Legal Basis for the Action
RDA said the operation was carried out under the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and applicable RDA building and zoning regulations, the same statutory framework the authority has relied on throughout its broader campaign against unauthorised housing schemes across Rawalpindi this year. An RDA spokesperson said unauthorised commercial activities, illegal construction, and development violations would not be permitted within the authority's controlled areas.
Why This Fits a Wider Pattern of RDA Enforcement in 2026
This action is not an isolated event. RDA declared 293 housing schemes illegal earlier this year and has since moved through successive phases of enforcement, including issuing showcause notices to a batch of unregistered schemes and sealing several illegal housing developments in other parts of the district. The Morgah operation represents a further escalation within that same pattern, moving from notices and sealing action toward the physical demolition of roads and underground infrastructure already built at unapproved sites, which is generally harder and more costly for a developer to reverse or continue than a sealed structure.
What Comes Next
RDA has directed its field teams to continue inspections and maintain ongoing enforcement against illegal housing development and unauthorised commercial construction, with the authority stating that action against illegal construction and unlawful commercial activity would continue in line with applicable law. Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and RDA Director General Salman Ghani oversaw the operation, with Deputy Director Planning Muhammad Daud leading the field team on site.
What This Means for Buyers and Investors
For prospective buyers and investors, the Morgah operation is a clear reminder that even land subdivisions and housing schemes that have progressed to laying roads, sewerage lines, and other physical infrastructure are not shielded from enforcement if they lack proper RDA approval. Given RDA's now well documented pattern of moving from notices to sealing to outright demolition across different schemes this year, anyone considering a plot in an unregistered or unverified Rawalpindi housing scheme should confirm the scheme's legal status directly with RDA before purchasing, since physical development at a site is not evidence of regulatory approval.