Lahore is Home to 171 Illegal Housing Societies and 423 Legal Ones: Board of Revenue

In a major revelation, the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) disclosed critical findings regarding Lahore’s real estate landscape. Currently, the city is home to 423 officially sanctioned housing societies, contrasted by a concerning 171 residential colonies operating outside the law. The SMBR underscored the urgent need for all private housing societies to be integrated with the Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) to address widespread fraud issues. The SMBR highlighted a major concern regarding the illicit sale of nonexistent plots, which puts unsuspecting buyers at risk. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and protect the property rights of residents in Lahore’s rapidly developing real estate market. A meeting led by Nabeel Javed, Punjab’s Senior Member Board of Revenue, gathered key officials including Member Colonies Abdul Waheed Malik, Member Taxes Zaman Wattoo, Secretary Housing Tayyab Fareed, Special Secretary Local Government Muhammad Arshad Baig, and LDA DG Tahir Farooq. During this session, Javed reiterated the importance of connecting all private housing societies with the PLRA to mitigate fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of plots. Javed also instructed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general to gather comprehensive data on housing societies throughout the province. He emphasized the necessity for prompt issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to societies experiencing delays, while stressing that any non-compliance with government regulations would result in legal repercussions to safeguard public finances.