KP seeks records of housing projects operating without NOCs

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a province-wide drive against illegal housing societies and has sought complete records from developers to identify projects operating without mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) or on the basis of forged documents.

According to Director General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Use and Building Control Authority (LUBCA) Khizar Hayat Khan, several housing societies failed to comply with earlier directives to regularize their status despite being given sufficient time to obtain valid NOCs by submitting complete legal documentation. He said housing schemes operating without NOCs are illegal and pose serious risks to the public, as many such projects unlawfully collect money from citizens in the name of residential plots.

To improve transparency and ensure effective verification, Khizar Hayat Khan said the scrutiny of NOCs and related documents will now be carried out at the LUBCA headquarters instead of at the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) level. This step aims to prevent manipulation of records and strengthen oversight.

Authorities have decided to initiate strict legal action against non-compliant housing societies. Measures include sealing of offices, registration of criminal cases against owners, and coordination with relevant police stations to enforce the law.

The LUBCA director general further stated that field-level monitoring is being intensified and warned that any negligence by officials in implementing regulations will lead to disciplinary action under applicable rules. He added that similar steps are also being taken at the federal level and in other provinces to curb illegal housing activities.

The public has been advised to independently verify the legal status and NOCs of housing societies before making any investment to avoid potential financial losses.