RDA Issues Notice Over Plot Sales in Bahria Town Phase 8: Which Sectors Are Affected?

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued a show-cause notice to Bahria Town's management over the alleged unauthorised advertising, marketing, booking, and sale of plots in Bahria Town Phase 8, according to Capital News Point, published 13 August 2026. The notice is also listed on RDA's official news page.

Which Sectors Are Named

The notice specifically identifies advertising, marketing, booking, and sale activity taking place in Sectors J, K, L, M, N, O, P, and Rose Garden of Bahria Town Phase 8. RDA states these activities are being carried out without the authority's prior approval, as legally required. Notably, the notice does not name the earlier, more established sectors of Phase 8 (such as A through I), meaning its immediate scope is limited to this specific set of newer or less-developed sectors rather than the entire Phase 8 scheme.

The Legal Basis for the Notice

The notice was issued by RDA's Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering Directorate to Bahria Town's Director of Planning and Design, Saqib Daya, citing an alleged violation of Section 46 of the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules 2021. Under Rule 46(1), no sponsor is permitted to advertise the sale of plots or housing units through any medium — including print or electronic media — without first obtaining RDA's approval. RDA has directed Bahria Town management to submit a written explanation within seven days as to why legal action should not be initiated over the alleged violations, and has separately ordered that all advertising, booking, sales, promotional events, and related activity concerning these sectors stop immediately.

What Happens If Bahria Town Doesn't Comply

RDA's notice warns that failure to respond satisfactorily within the stipulated period, or continued non-compliance, could result in strict legal action under the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and the relevant housing scheme rules — including financial fines and the sealing of Bahria Town's site office for these sectors.

Why RDA Took Action Now

According to RDA, this notice followed a complaint received through the Rawalpindi Commissioner's Office, along with a separate complaint submitted via the Punjab Chief Minister's Complaint Cell — meaning the action originated from citizen or allottee complaints escalated through official government channels, rather than a routine RDA inspection.

Part of a Longer Pattern of RDA Scrutiny on Phase 8

This is not RDA's first intervention in Bahria Town Phase 8. Dawn reported in January 2026 that RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza ordered an immediate, comprehensive inquiry into the scheme after allottees complained the administration had failed to grant possession of plots dating back to 2004, directing legal action including FIRs against employees found responsible. In a separate case covered by Dawn in April 2024, RDA sealed some under-construction buildings in Phase 8 after residents flagged illegal construction and encroachment on land reserved for green areas, parks, drainage, and roads — and RDA's DG at the time confirmed the scheme's approved layout plan hadn't even been uploaded to RDA's website, prompting her to order all approved layout plans published going forward. Separately, sectors associated with Bahria Town Phase 8 have also featured in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry and land auction proceedings during 2026, adding another layer of legal uncertainty specifically around this phase's undeveloped and semi-developed sectors.

What This Means for Buyers in the Named Sectors

This is a regulatory show-cause notice, not a final finding against the developer, and it does not automatically invalidate every plot in Bahria Town Phase 8 or the scheme as a whole — its immediate relevance is limited to the marketing and sale activity in the eight specifically named sectors. That said, buyers and existing plot holders in Sectors J, K, L, M, N, O, P, and Rose Garden should expect bookings and resale activity in these areas to slow while the matter is pending, and should specifically ask for evidence of RDA approval before completing any new booking or purchase in these sectors. Anyone with an active booking in the named sectors should confirm directly with RDA whether that specific booking falls within the scope of the notice, rather than relying solely on Bahria Town's own representations. This development sits alongside the company's broader legal challenges covered in milkiyat.com's report on Malik Riaz's appeal to Field Marshal Asim Munir over Bahria Town asset auctions, underscoring that Bahria Town currently faces regulatory and legal scrutiny on multiple fronts simultaneously.

---

Sources

1. Capital News Point — "RDA Issues Show-Cause Notice to Bahria Town Over Alleged Unauthorized Plot Sales in Phase 8", 13 Aug 2026: https://english.capitalnewspoint.com/2026/08/13/rda-issues-show-cause-notice-to-bahria-town-over-alleged-unauthorized-plot-sales-in-phase-8/
2. Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) — Official Latest News page: https://rda.gop.pk/latest-news
3. Dawn — "RDA orders probe into Bahria Town Phase-8 over delayed possession": https://www.dawn.com/news/1964920
4. Dawn — "RDA takes notice of alleged illegal construction in Bahria Town": https://www.dawn.com/news/1826183