SC bars Punjab govt from granting approvals to new housing societies

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday restricted the Punjab government from giving approvals to new housing societies.

While hearing the case of forensic audit of housing societies, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that the records of housing societies were set ablaze deliberately.

Barring the provincial government from approving further housing society projects, the top judge lamented “the areas of greenery have been transformed into housing societies,” does anyone consider environment sustainability while building such projects? he asked.

How much fees these housing project developers pay to the government? the Chief Justice questioned, further asking about the mechanism of societies for transfer of title.

Moreover, Justice Nisar sought the details of forensic audit of the societies from the governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa within next week.

Federal and Balochistan governments were also directed to submit a response on the Gawadar Housing scheme.

During the hearing, the apex court also ordered Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to provide a report on the forensic audit of societies.

On the other hand, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been conducting inquiries into several housing scheme scams in Punjab.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, senior civil servant Fawad Hasan Fawad, Ahad Cheema and other higher officials along with notable politicians are being probed by the NAB in Ashian-e-Iqbal Housing scheme scam.

Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique are also being investigated by the anti-graft body in connection with another housing scheme scandal – Paragon Housing Society.