Crackdown Decided Against Illegal Housing Societies
Chitral Times Report
Peshawar : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has decided to launch a crackdown on illegal housing societies. Societies without valid NOCs (No Objection Certificates) or those using fake ones will be sealed, and their owners will face legal action and possible imprisonment.
The decision was taken on Thursday during a meeting chaired by Director General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Use Building Control Authority, Khizar Hayat Khan. The meeting was attended by Chief Planning and Controlling Officers (CPCOs) of the Peshawar Zone, who were instructed regarding building bylaws, housing societies, and related matters.
Addressing the meeting, DG Khizar Hayat Khan stated that there have been numerous complaints against certain housing societies for lacking NOCs or allegedly possessing fake NOCs. In light of this, the NOCs of housing societies across the province will be thoroughly investigated. He further said that several housing societies, after obtaining NOCs, have expanded their area without official approval. There will also be an inquiry into how many housing societies have been established by falsely declaring agricultural land as commercial.
Officials such as patwaris (land record officers) and girdawars (field assistants) who facilitated the fraudulent establishment of housing societies will be reported to the Deputy Commissioner and Local Government authorities, and action will be recommended through a letter to the Secretary of Local Government.
Khizar Hayat Khan further mentioned that an investigation will also be conducted into unauthorized land expansions and misuse of agricultural land for commercial purposes. Officials involved in such fraud will be reported for disciplinary action. Advertising or selling plots without a valid NOC is declared illegal under the 2021 regulations, and violators will be referred to the Anti-Corruption Department.
