The Punjab Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee-I (PAC-I) has directed district administrations across the province to prepare a comprehensive list of approved and illegal housing societies, including details of legal action taken against unauthorised schemes. Deputy commissioners have been given 60 days to submit the required information to the committee.
The directive was issued during a PAC-I meeting held in Lahore on Monday, November 2, 2026, chaired by MPA Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain Chhachhar. The meeting reviewed the Audit Report 2022-23 concerning the Punjab Board of Revenue and the Punjab Land Records Authority, according to reports published by The Nation and Daily Times.
During the meeting, committee members examined audit objections involving uncollected and partially recovered government revenue, including stamp duty, withholding tax and penalties. They also reviewed cases involving financial losses to the public treasury caused by housing societies and the undervaluation of properties.
The committee discussed several other administrative and financial matters, including departments failing to provide records for audits and issues related to the recovery and utilisation of government land. Officials were also asked to provide details of public and private clubs occupying government land, along with the legal authority and terms under which the land had been allotted or occupied.
Departments that had only partially addressed audit objections were instructed to submit the outstanding records and complete pending proceedings within 60 days. Meanwhile, the committee appreciated departments that had achieved full compliance with audit requirements.
PAC-I Chairman Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain Chhachhar emphasised the importance of protecting public land, ensuring transparency and recovering government revenue. He also stressed that accountability should be maintained across relevant departments. Several MPAs, including Javed Allaud Din Sajid, Saeed Akbar Khan, Ghazali Saleem Butt, Rao Kashif Rahim Khan and Sarah Ahmed, attended the meeting.
The proposed province-wide list could help property buyers verify the legal status of housing societies before investing in plots. Greater access to official information may also improve transparency in the real estate sector and help buyers avoid unauthorised housing schemes.
