NAROWAL: The Sialkot district administration has declared 97 housing societies as illegal, cautioning citizens from purchasing plots in the unauthorised schemes.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Shah Mir Iqbal has released a list of these 97 illegal housing schemes operating within the boundaries of Sialkot district.

Mr Iqbal said there are a total of 80 housing schemes located within the district council’s jurisdiction, with their applications either rejected or still pending in various legal stages.

He said the district administration strictly adheres to the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) only to housing societies that meet all the necessary legal requirements. As of now, 17 housing societies situated within the limits of Sialkot tehsil are currently under review for approval, with 17 others still considered illegal, awaiting a final decision. He said applications for the approval of 14 housing societies in Sialkot have been rejected.

In Daska Tehsil, the applications of 13 housing societies are currently in the process of approval, with no final decision made yet, while the applications of four housing societies have been rejected. The approval process for six housing societies in Pasrur tehsil is still pending, and two housing colonies’ applications have been rejected.

Nine housing societies in Sambrial tehsil are at various legal stages of approval. The list of housing societies issued by the Sialkot district administration also reveals that two housing schemes within the municipal corporation’s jurisdiction are undergoing legal processes, while three housing schemes have been rejected and declared illegal.

One housing scheme is currently under consideration within the limits of the Pasrur Municipal Committee, awaiting legalisation. Similarly, one housing scheme is under consideration in the jurisdiction of the Sambrial Municipal Committee, with 14 housing schemes having their applications rejected.

The list of housing societies includes the names of those colonies whose NOC applications have been denied.

The DC has urged citizens to exercise caution and refrain from investing in housing societies that have not obtained NOCs.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2023