RAWALPINDI, Dec 13: Over two dozen housing societies are operating unlawfully in Potohar Town, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

There are 38 housing societies out of 55 that are operating unlawfully in Potohar Town. The town nazim has warned people against investing in the fake housing projects.

The town administration has been informed about the situation and has been asked to take steps against the fake societies to save simple people from losing their money to fraudsters.

The housing societies that have been operating without obtaining ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from Town Municipal Administration (TMA) Potohar, include National Agro City, Ex-Servicemen Mujahid Town, Posh City, Chinar Valley, Shadabad, Gulshan-i-Kashmir phase-I and II, Imtiaz Town, Khan Town, Saad Town, Sanam Valley, Sara Town, Qartaba Farming, Usama Town, Gulf City, Green City, Hina Town, Jafria Town, Gulshan-i-Sangral, Pindi Dairy Town, Pak PWD Housing Project Chak Beli Road, New Iqra City, New Islamabad City, Danial Town, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Town, Al Khair City, Classic City, Motorway View Peace City, Gulshan-i-Islamabad Adiala Road, Khyber City, Dubai City, Albader Motoway Town, Atomic Energy Scheme, 99 City, New Islam Farming and Asia Housing Scheme Ranial Chakri Road.

Three housing societies -- Safari Valley, Banker City and Pakistan Government Employees Cooperative Housing Society -- have been served with notices of warning for not complying with the terms and conditions of the NOC they got in 2005. Format City, Defence Garden, now National Garden , and City Model Town have been served notices by the TMA for submitting incomplete documents to obtain the NOC.

The scrutiny committee of the TMA has also directed two other housing societies to carry on their development works according to the approved lay out and the committee directed the ‘under consideration’ societies not to launch publicity campaigns and refrain from selling undeveloped land.

Town Nazim Hamid Nawaz Raja asked the people not to invest in the bogus schemes and warned the illegal societies to fulfil the criteria laid down for the purpose and obtain the NOC before inviting investment.