LAHORE - The Lahore Development Authority is going to start a mobile-phone based service, which aims to inform the people about details of all the legal and illegal housing schemes.
Within last few years, the bogus and illegal housing societies have swelled to over 150 in the LDA controlled area of the provincial capital. Despite the bylaws enacted with a purpose to punish the fraudulent owners of unlawful housing schemes and several campaigns by the authority, the number of societies is swiftly multiplying.
With a rapid increase in the population of the country’s second largest city, the housing needs are also boosting vigorously and it was observed that taking advantage of the situation numerous fraudulent housing schemes are also being launched by different dubious developers. These unknown investors use advertisements to lure the public into buying illegal plots.
LDA, which has the power to award NOCs and other relevant approval for the development of any new real estate venture including housing schemes, acts time to time against illegal projects.
As part of public awareness campaign, the LDA also advertised names of the illegal housing schemes, launched in the past years.
An LDA spokesman told The Nation yesterday that it is the high time that investors and general public should understand their responsibility. People who want to invest in real estate projects situated in the city should check their standing from LDA’s relevant department - than take decision regarding investment in only legitimate ones.
Since, acquiring a plot in a scheme and than building a dream home is a wish of every individual, who does not own any house. Therefore, why not do some homework before investing in any of the launched project, to cure from any future mishap.
Once a project is tagged as illegal and the investor’s property falls in the illegal framework of the project, for which LDA had not given permission - action is bound to be taken on that property. Moreover, the LDA would not sanction any claim on any property that comes in illegal jurisdiction of the alleged venture.
Thus it is important to check the legitimacy of any new or old housing scheme or commercial project from LDA, before investing in it. These endeavours will certainly eradicate the dubious aspect regarding any real estate venture from investor’s perspective.
An information counter at LDA One Window Cell at Johar Town Office is also working to guide people.