MUZAFFARGARH: Kot Addu district authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal housing schemes as Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Munawar Abbas Bukhari ordered the sealing of ‘Golf City’, an unregistered housing colony located near Head Muhammad Wala over hundreds of acres.

The colony’s owner has also been booked by the police for allegedly deceiving citizens and illegally selling plots.

The district collector said that the owner of Golf City had been involved in fraudulent practices, selling plots on sand dunes while falsely portraying the colony as a Multan-based residential project.

Hundreds of unsuspecting buyers have reportedly been defrauded of crores of rupees through down payments, confirmation fees and ongoing monthly installments.

Planning Officer Malik Mahboob of the Muzaffargarh District Council confirmed that a case was registered against the housing scheme’s administration and that the colony had been sealed following a directive from the District Housing Committee.

He added that the project was neither registered with the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) nor legally permitted to sell plots. Due to this lack of registration, the mutation of plots in the colony remains banned, and buyers may face legal and financial risks.

According to local sources, Golf City and its offshoot, Executive Golf City, were marketed aggressively to residents of Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh and Multan.

Despite its remote and undeveloped location, the colony administration managed to collect millions from buyers under the guise of down payments and other fees.

The controversy gained authorities attention when a review petition against the district collector’s sealing order was scheduled for a court hearing. However, the hearing was postponed due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kot Addu on Friday for the inauguration of the Kachhi Canal rehabilitation project.

DC Abbas said such activities not only deceive citizens but also tarnish the reputation of legitimate developers. “We have imposed a ban on all construction and sales activities in Golf City. No one will be allowed to exploit the public in this manner,” he stated.

PHATA has also issued an advisory mentioning the dangers of investing in unregistered housing schemes. Officials warned that any financial transactions with such entities are the responsibility of the buyers, as these schemes operate outside the legal framework.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2024