In a notification dated December 6, 2019, PDA had directed Bahria Town to abstain from advertising about its housing scheme in Peshawar as according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Site Development Scheme Rules, advertising and launching of site development scheme along with sale and purchase of plots prior to approval from the competent forum was illegal.
The notice directed Bahria Town to stop the illegal activity of advertisement, sale/purchase and allotment of plots till the scheme is approved.
In a notice, circulating on social media and apparently issued following the first notice, the PDA referred to the earlier notice pertaining to advertisement of Bahria Town Peshawar prior to approval and declared it ‘withdrawn’.
Recently, business tycoon Malik Riaz, who is the owner of Bahria Town, reached a settlement of £190 million with UK’s National Crime Agency. In the following days, there were instances of government officials refraining from naming the business tycoon and TV channels muting references to him.
Malik Riaz is believed to wield significant influence over media, politicians and even judges.