Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has raised a red flag over the alarming number of illegal and unapproved housing societies across the province, stating that over 5,000 such schemes are either unauthorized or still waiting for official clearance.
In a high-level meeting she chaired, officials revealed that out of 7,905 total housing societies in Punjab, only 2,687 have secured approval, leaving 5,118 in a grey area.
In Lahore specifically, of the 707 housing schemes under the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), 427 are approved, while 206 are illegal.
During the meeting, the government considered offering a one-time amnesty to unapproved societies and agreed to set up a high-level committee to draft a plan for regularization.
Officials also announced the development of an online system that would manage approvals, transfers, and payments for housing societies.
The new system aims to simplify the process by eliminating redundant NOCs and allowing document uploads and fee payments online.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz strongly criticized both public institutions and private developers for allowing the rise of illegal schemes.
She pointed out that many ordinary citizens end up losing their savings without ever receiving the promised plots.
She questioned the failure of authorities to intervene earlier and stressed the urgency of protecting common people from exploitation.
She added that under existing laws, the government is now considering a one-time amnesty to address the issue of unauthorized housing schemes.