GUJRAT: The local government and community development (LG&CD) department secretary on Thursday ordered to de-seal the offices of two of the three housing societies in Sara-i-Alamgir.

The Gujrat district council chief officer has been issued the directions through an order issued by Punjab LG&CD Secretary Shakeel Ahmed on May 14.

The order has instructed to deseal the offices of the Grand City and Citi Housing societies with immediate effect. It further directed the management of both these societies to submit all the required documents and fulfill the legal requirements within the next four weeks.

The Gujrat district council had sealed the offices of three housing societies, including the Metro City, Grand City and the Citi Housing on May 9 and also removed the publicity material of these housing societies during an operation.

At least 19 housing societies in the Gujrat district, including these three, had been declared as illegal through a public notice issued by Gujrat Deputy Commissioner and District Council Administrator Noorul Ain Qureshi.

The management of the two housing societies had filed an appeal with the LG&CD secretary seeking to de-seal their offices.

Official sources said that the hearing was conducted by the special secretary of the department on May 12 and the order was issued two days after the hearing. They added that the offices of both societies were being desealed in accordance with the instructions of the LG&CD secretary.

DISMISSED: In persuance of internal accountability, the Federal Investigation Agency, Gujranwala, dismissed four sub-inspectors (SIs) from service on charges of negligence and misuse of authority.

A senior FIA official said a decision to the effect had been taken after a thorough inquiry conducted by the FIA’s senior officials during which it was established that these officials were involved in misuse of authority and negligence in performing the duty.

He said the dismissed SIs include Muhammad Ibrar, Muhammad Rubab, Irtaza and Shahzaib.

Gujranwala FIA zone director Muhammad Bin Ashraf said to ensure transparency within the department, the internal accountability drive would continue as the department had a zero tolerance policy towards misconduct.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026