The Punjab government has finalized preparations for strict new legislation aimed at curbing land grabbing and fraud in the buying and selling of residential plots, officials said on Friday.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Board of Revenue, chaired by Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin. Senior officials, including Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Nabeel Javed, Secretary Housing Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, the Director General of Lahore Development Authority, and representatives of the Punjab Land Records Authority, attended the meeting. Officers from the local government, finance, law, Ravi Urban Development Authority, cooperatives, environment, and WASA departments were also present.
During the briefing, participants were informed that public complaints related to illegal housing schemes and fake file systems would be addressed through coordinated action. The Punjab Land Records Authority has been tasked with developing province-wide software to regulate and monitor the approval process of housing schemes.
The meeting set a target of 90 days to resolve pending matters related to digital revenue records, issuance of no-objection certificates, and other administrative processes. Recommendations were also presented to ban the promotion of illegal housing schemes and to make registration mandatory for property dealers.
Officials further proposed freezing bank accounts and assets of those found violating housing and land laws. It was also decided that no settlements would be allowed on natural floodwater channels to prevent future environmental and safety risks.
Speaking on the occasion, Housing Minister Bilal Yasin said that selling plot files far in excess of approved land would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He added that strict action would also be taken against housing schemes that change the location of allotted plots even after receiving installment payments from buyers.
The minister warned that individuals involved in forgery, deception, and fraud should correct their conduct, stating that the protection of citizens’ rights is a top priority of the Punjab government under the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
