SAHIWAL (Correspondent): The Municipal Corporation Sahiwal (MC) has officially denied legal approval to 46 private housing societies across the city. The decision, communicated through a formal notification, imposes an immediate and total ban on all marketing activities and property sales within these developments.
Effective immediately, the owners of these societies are prohibited from advertising in print or electronic media. Furthermore, the sale of both residential and commercial plots has been strictly outlawed.
Reasons Behind the Crackdown
According to Municipal Corporation officials, this decisive action was prompted by persistent violations of the “Punjab Private Housing Schemes and Land Subdivision Rules 2010.” Key factors contributing to the rejection include:
A Decade of Pending Cases: Dr. Asif Tufail, Commissioner and Administrator of the Municipal Corporation, revealed that the cases for these societies had been under process for the last 10 years without reaching legal compliance.
Disregard for Official Warnings: Despite repeated instructions and official warnings from MC officers to fulfill legal requirements, the developers reportedly failed to bring their projects into alignment with provincial regulations.
A Case-by-Case Evaluation
CEO of the Municipal Corporation, Sheikh Ashfaq, clarified that the decision was not a blanket rejection based on a single issue. Instead, the authorities scrutinized each development individually.
“Every society’s case was at a different stage of completion. Therefore, each case was reviewed independently and decided strictly in accordance with the law,” Ashfaq stated.
Protecting the Public
The ban aims to safeguard citizens from potential financial fraud and the risks associated with illegal constructions. Following this notification, any purchase or sale of plots within these 46 societies will be considered illegal.
Authorities have advised the public to verify the legal status of any housing project with the Municipal Corporation before making any investments.