Punjab: CM orders action against 100 ‘bogus’ housing schemes

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Crackdown on such schemes likely to be launched within 15 days

Aaj Kal Report

LAHORE: The Punjab Revenue Department has started a survey of 400 housing schemes, 100 of which are seemingly bogus, in the provincial metropolis on the directions of Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif. The CM took notice of the situation after receiving hundreds of applications from the victims of land mafia, as they were deprived of billions of rupees.

The revenue officials revealed a crackdown on such schemes was imminent in 15 days. According to the officials, most of the victims are expatriates, who had invested in the hope to have a house in Pakistan, and villagers who sold their agricultural land to dwell in the city. The victims also included retired government servants who were deprived of their life-long savings and housewives who sold their gold ornaments to get a house for their families.

The victims have now been advised to get forms from the office of the deputy district officer (revenue) concerned and return it to the same office after giving a detailed account of the fraud.

According to official sources, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has declared 103 housing colonies as illegal whereas the housing cell of the National Accountability Bureau has also started investigating these schemes.

District Officer (Revenue) Zulfiqar Ahmed Ghumman told Aaj Kal that there are 400 housing colonies in the provincial metropolis and revenue officials, patwaris and other field staff have been advised to conduct a survey of the schemes and report within two weeks.

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