ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to establish a complaints’ cell for people trying to obtain plots or investments in housing societies.

The committee met to discuss the problems facing people who invest their life savings in housing societies in the capital but have not received plots.

Committee chairman Senator Rehman Malik said people were being deprived of money in the name of housing societies.

“Housing societies have been selling more plots than the land they possess. Plots always exist in files but never get practical shape,” he said.

Senator Malik directed the FIA to establish a complaints cell and investigate societies that were not giving possession of plots.

The committee suggested that a grand operation be held against such housing societies and directed the Islamabad chief commissioner to provide details of all the housing societies in the capital.

A number of housing societies were established in the capital during the Musharraf regime due to an artificial boom in the real estate sector.

Many people invested their savings in plots but are still awaiting possession of their land.

The managements of a number of societies managed to leave the country after selling the land.

In 2016, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration introduced reforms that aimed to improve the operation of cooperative housing societies and curb corruption by increasing auditors’ responsibilities.

It was decided that only credible auditors, recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, would be entitled to audit cooperative housing societies.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018