LAHORE: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has launched a thorough probe into 62 private housing schemes allegedly involved in deceptive marketing and prowling the public at large.

The probe was initiated after the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) launched advertisements in print and electronic media, writing letters to the media houses with intimation to the CCP about the ongoing deceptive marketing by the housing schemes situated in Lahore and its adjoining districts — Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib.

“The CCP is likely to impose fine up to Rs75 million on the several private housing schemes in Lahore allegedly involved in deceptive marketing and prowling the public at large. The CCP is to take such an action after its inquiry team visited 62 housing schemes in Lahore and its adjoining districts — Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib and found various issues.

“We will take action under section 37(1) of the CCP against illegal housing schemes involved in deceptively marketing their land to the general public in Lahore division. We started doing this after the LDA raised concerns in this regard,” said CCP delegation head Dr Shahzad Ansar in a meeting with LDA DG Sumair Ahmad Syed. “If wrongdoings prove, the CCP will surely impose penalty under section 38 of CCP Act, 2010 on the private schemes’ sponsors to the tune of Rs75 million or an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of the annual turnover of the scheme,” he added.

The CCP team told the LDA chief that their mutual coordination would not only bring awareness to the general public but also it would be beneficial for the competing undertakings to promote their business fairly. “These illegal housing schemes were either in violation of master plan of Lahore division or without approval of the LDA,” he added. The inquiry report is expected to be released/ published within the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, the staff of the LDA’s Estate Management Directorate (private housing schemes) carried out an operation against three illegal housing schemes in Harbanspura, Ring Road area on Thursday. The LDA staff demolished under-construction roads, sewerage system, boundary walls, site offices and other infrastructure of Insaf City, Al-amin Villas and Madina Park, according to a spokesman.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2020