LAHORE: The Punjab government has rolled out a comprehensive initiative aimed at digitizing housing societies across the province to streamline the acquisition of No Objection Certificates (NOCs). This initiative is designed to facilitate property registration and diminish bureaucratic hurdles.
In a key meeting led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, significant resolutions were made regarding the regularization of unauthorized housing societies in Punjab and to protect citizens from fraudulent practices. A new digital platform, known as the “Housing Society Management System,” is set to launch shortly. This system will simplify processes related to property approvals, transfers, NOC fee payments, and general society administration.
The introduction of this centralized digital framework will promote transparent development and oversight of housing projects, with a high-level committee established to manage the regularization process throughout the province.
CM Maryam Nawaz expressed concern for those individuals who, after making payments, often find themselves deceived and without plots. She condemned the role of certain government entities in permitting the operation of illegal housing schemes and emphasized the critical need for legal remedies, alongside a one-time amnesty to provide public relief.
The provincial government is also considering an amnesty program for unregulated housing societies to promote their formalization.
During the meeting, it was noted that Punjab has 7,905 housing societies spanning 20 lakh canals of land. Out of these, 5,118 are marked as either illegal or under investigation, while merely 2,687 have secured approval.
Furthermore, the chief minister was informed that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) currently regulates 707 housing schemes, with 427 approved, 206 identified as illegal, and 74 still pending investigation.
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