Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has revealed that more than 5,000 housing societies in the province are either illegal or awaiting approval, raising serious concerns about the regulation of the real estate sector.
During a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, officials briefed that Punjab has a total of 7,905 housing societies. Of these, only 2,687 are approved, while 5,118 are either illegal or still under process. In Lahore, out of 707 housing schemes organized by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), 427 are approved and 206 are illegal.
The meeting discussed the possibility of granting a one-time amnesty to illegal housing schemes and agreed to form a high-level committee to develop a regularization mechanism. Plans were also announced to introduce an online management system for the approval, management, and transfer of housing societies, including online payment of NOC fees and document uploads. Unnecessary NOCs for registration will be abolished to streamline the process.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz criticized both government departments and private developers for their role in the spread of illegal housing societies, noting that poor citizens often lose money without receiving plots. She questioned why relevant authorities failed to act as illegal schemes were established and stressed the need to protect the interests of ordinary buyers.
The Chief Minister said that, according to rules and regulations, the government will have to consider a one-time amnesty for these housing schemes.
