Govt decides to tighten noose around illegal housing societies

LAHORE:Provincial Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Bilal Yasin while chairing a meeting regarding private housing schemes on Friday, has directed the officials concerned to tighten the noose around illegal housing societies and those involved in overselling in Punjab.

LDA Vice Chairman Mian Marghoob Ahmed was also present. During a detailed briefing, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq informed the participants that over 400 housing colonies have been approved in the provincial capital, more than 70 new applications have been received, and around 200 illegal schemes have been established for years.

Bilal Yasin issued instructions to establish a one-window operation for housing scheme approvals and implement IT-based reforms. Later, the minister met with former Federal Minister and Patron-in-Chief of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), Gohar Ejaz, and other members at the Board of Revenue. Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab Nabeel Javed, Secretary ABAD North Region SM Nabeel, and other members also participated. Proposed government measures against overselling and illegal housing societies were discussed in the meeting. The minister emphasised forming a concrete mechanism in collaboration with stakeholders from the development sector to prevent overselling in private schemes. He also directed that unnecessary NOCs for housing scheme registration be eliminated and that the Punjab Land Records Authority's system be utilised for society regulation and approvals across the province. Strict action will be taken against those selling plots beyond the approved land.

Bilal Yasin stressed the identification of individuals exploiting poor citizens by collecting millions under the guise of development charges. He added that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is highly displeased with even a single rupee being wasted from the public’s money. Action will be taken against those defrauding or deceiving ordinary citizens in private housing schemes. The meeting was also attended by DG LDA, DG PLRA, and representatives from Housing, Revenue, and LDA departments.

Meanwhile, the second meeting of governing body of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for the current year was held under the chairmanship of LDA Vice Chairman Mian Marghoob Ahmed. The meeting was attended by Chaudhry Shehbaz Ahmed, Wasa Vice Chairman; LDA Director General Tahir Farooq; LDA Authority Member and Parliamentary Secretary for Housing Barrister Sultan Bajwa, Technical Members Abdul Hanan and Akbar Sheikh. During the meeting nine agenda items were presented.