Rawalpindi (Staff Reporter): A group of affected buyers of Mall 35, Rawalpindi, staged a strong protest against Zameen.com and demanded immediate and unconditional possession of their paid commercial units, withdrawal of unclear escalation charges, fulfilment of rental commitments and a workable timeline to make the project fully functional by December 2026.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, affected buyers Aitizazul Hassan, Zakir Hussain, Syed Zahid Hussain, Hadia Nusrat and Muhammad Ijaz appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the commissioner and deputy commissioner Rawalpindi, the chief executive officer of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and the station commander to take urgent notice of the matter and provide justice to the buyers.<\/p>\n
They said Mall 35 was a joint project of Zameen.com, Zameen Development and EBCO Constructions Private Limited, launched in 2019. According to the agreements, the project was to be completed in November 2022, but, they claimed, by August 2026 many buyers had still not received possession of their shops and kiosks.<\/p>\n
The buyers said they had invested their life savings in the project with the expectation that they would receive timely possession and rental income. However, they added, the prolonged delay had caused them serious financial hardship and uncertainty.<\/p>\n
They said that while the hotel apartments of Mall 35 had been operational since February 2025, buyers of commercial shops and kiosks were still waiting for their keys. More than 100 affected families, they said, had joined the Mall 35 Buyers Collective Group to jointly raise their voice for their lawful rights.<\/p>\n
The affected buyers alleged that some purchasers who had paid their instalments either fully or substantially were later issued letters demanding heavy additional amounts under the head of escalation charges. According to them, demands issued to only 13 members of the group totalled more than Rs30 million, while individual additional demands ranged from Rs400,000 to Rs6 million.<\/p>\n
They maintained that no clear calculation, index or formula had been provided to explain the basis of these additional charges. The buyers said many of them had already paid 85 to 90 per cent of their dues under the agreements, while some had also paid escalation and possession charges. Despite this, they claimed, neither possession of the units had been handed over nor the promised rent paid.<\/p>\n
The buyers further alleged that they were informed of different conditions, timelines and contractual points at different times, and that they also faced pressure to sign revised documents before possession.<\/p>\n
They also expressed concern over taxes imposed on Mall 35 buyers, saying that tax had also been collected from purchasers who had not yet received possession of their units. They claimed that large amounts had also been deducted as tax from the rental income of hotel apartment owners.<\/p>\n
The affected buyers demanded that the nature, rate, legal basis and proof of deposit of every tax should be provided to them, and that any unjustified recoveries should be refunded.<\/p>\n
They said Mall 35 had given written assurances regarding exclusive leasing rights and an expected minimum rental income of five per cent on the purchase price. However, they alleged, despite these written assurances, commitments regarding leasing and rent were not being implemented.<\/p>\n
According to the buyers, there were also concerns that further delays, fresh financial or tax liabilities, new conditions for possession and secondary agreements could limit their earlier rights.<\/p>\n
They demanded that unjustified escalation charges be withdrawn, the promised rent be paid in accordance with the agreements, and the original contracts be respected. They also demanded that no buyer should be forced to surrender legal or contractual rights through secondary agreements.<\/p>\n
The affected buyers appealed to the Punjab chief minister to take personal interest in resolving the matter. They also urged the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi, the CEO of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and the station commander Rawalpindi Cantonment to take immediate notice.<\/p>\n
They said a timely and fair resolution would not only provide relief to the affected families but would also help restore the confidence of overseas Pakistanis in investment in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The buyers warned that if the issue was not resolved, they would approach relevant forums, including the Competition Commission of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency, and, if needed, seek investigations and legal action.<\/p>\n
They said all their claims were based on agreements, payment records, written correspondence and other documentary evidence available with them, adding that they were ready to present the material before any competent authority.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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