TAXILA: The district administration has declared 92 housing societies operating in different areas of Attock, Hassanabdal, Jand, Pindigheb, Hazro and Fatehjang illegal.

According to the list, the highest number of housing societies operating illegally are located in Fatehjang while some famous societies launched by various government departments in the district have also been termed illegal. Six housing societies launched in Attock tehsil, five in Hazro, 23 in Hassanabdal, four in Pindigheb, two in Jand and 52 in Fatehjang were declared illegal.

Operators of these societies allegedly deprived innocent people of their hard-earned money through attractive slogans and tall claims.

Official data reveals that housing societies launched by famous developers as well as various government organisations for their employees including Civilian Employers Cooperative Housing Scheme, New City Housing Scheme No 2, Multi Orchard Housing Scheme, Kohistan Enclave, Wah Model Town Housing Scheme, Faisal Town Housing Scheme and so on are also in the list.

Fatehjang has become the main hub of illegal housing societies and people should take extreme care before making any deal in this area, as per the data. According to an official, owners of housing societies confuse people.

An official of the district administration said there was not much of a difference between illegal and unapproved housing societies so people should remain cautious while buying plots or property in any housing society.

All societies mentioned in the compiled data are “illegal” as their owners have not fulfilled requirements necessary to develop a housing society.

“Now the administration has decided to make this data public to make people aware of illegal housing societies that can cause huge financial losses to them,” Chief Officer Khan Badshah said, adding that an information centre will also be established from where people can get data before buying plots or houses in any housing society.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2023