RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (R DA) issued final notices to 144 shopkeepers on Jinnah Road commonly known as City Saddar Road to remove encroachments from state land.

The RDA conducted a surveyoftheareaandfound the shops extending into footpaths and verandas.

A senior official said the RDA found some shops constructed on Auqaf department`s land and a number of timber shops on the land of a Gurdwara and temple being managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

He said Auqaf department and the ETPB had no right to give permission for the extension of shops to verandas or footpaths. `The verandas were constructed in the 70s for pedestrians in the main commercial hub of the city but the shopkeepers encroached on it gradually.

When contacted, RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi said the civic body had given a deadline to the illegal shops on City Saddar Road to vacate the land within seven days or present legal papers of ownership.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir threatened to protest if the civic bodies took action against any trader, claiming they had regularised their shops.

He said traders held a meeting with the RDA chairman last week during which the latter promised not to take action against the traders. Staff Reporter