Islamabad: A major investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has exposed widespread irregularities in private and cooperative housing schemes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including the sale of non-existent plots and issuance of fabricated memberships.
According to NAB’s findings, nearly 91,000 plots and files were oversold over several years, defrauding citizens of hundreds of billions of rupees. Around 20,000 memberships were reportedly allotted despite the complete absence of land, while housing schemes marketed nearly 80,000 kanals of land that did not exist within their approved plans.
The investigation revealed that private schemes alone sold about 26,000 plots and files beyond their sanctioned Layout Plans (LoPs) or actual land holdings. In one notable case, a scheme applied for LoP approval for just 4,000 kanals in 2022 but advertised itself as spanning 75,000 to 100,000 kanals. It sold between 30,000 and 40,000 plots, raising an estimated Rs50–60 billion, but managed to acquire only 34,000 kanals without securing regulatory approval or a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Cooperative housing societies were also implicated, with NAB reporting around 20,000 memberships issued without any land backing and approximately 65,000 plots sold where possession could not be granted due to incomplete development or lack of land. Data from four major societies showed that thousands of members are still awaiting possession, and many plots were sold beyond available land.
NAB Rawalpindi Director General Waqar Chouhan confirmed the investigation’s findings, stating that data was collected in coordination with the Cooperative Department and other relevant regulators to ensure authenticity. He added that NAB is preparing a reform package for the housing sector to address systemic issues and protect citizens.
Victims of these scams include professionals, government employees, retirees, and families who invested life savings in these projects, highlighting the scale of financial loss and the urgent need for regulatory oversight.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
