Lahore housing societies to clearly reveal all

Relevant information will be available on construction sites

LAHORE: In the wake of numerous complaints of scams by housing societies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore, after devising a mechanism of availability of information on site, has decided to replicate it throughout the region.

Earlier, it was successfully applied to the Khayaban-e-Amin society and Defence Road as a model project.

The information to be displayed comprised complete details of the housing society, specifying the map of approved area and approval from the regulatory body. Other information available would be the maps of blocks, affixed at the entrance. In addition, guidelines would be available for members at the society office, as would details of land reserved for public buildings and information on whether the property had been developed or if it was yet to be constructed.

The instructions had been conveyed to all regulators, including the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), Cooperative Department Punjab and Deputy Commissioners of Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Sahiwal.

NAB said it had been further clarified that various housing societies, processed by the bureau, intentionally hide exact information from the general public. This enabled the managements to deceive people with false information and, therefore, plots and houses were being sold without the compulsory approval of regulatory bodies.

During the course of inquiries and investigations, the bureau observed that not-for-sale areas, which had been for public buildings and places, were found sold. In some cases, the land which the owners do not possess was also sold to the public. The issue had already been repeatedly highlighted by NAB officers, including the bureau’s Lahore DG Saleem Shahzad, in meetings with affected people. Vigilance by regulators and customers had been stressed in these public gatherings.

NAB Lahore introduced a mechanism to ensure that the general public was not deceived any further by the housing sector. It was decided to clearly make public areas such as mosques, graveyards, schools, colleges and grounds etc. As a model, the mechanism was implemented at a private housing society in Lahore. Keeping in view public approval, NAB Lahore has issued instructions to implement the same mechanism in all societies established throughout Lahore and adjoining cities.

NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal also emphasised that all regional bureaus needed to expedite action against illegal housing societies.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2019.