PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a province-wide crackdown on illegal housing societies, seeking complete records from all developers to identify projects operating without mandatory. No Objection Certificates (NOCs) or on the basis of forged documents. According to the Director General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Use and Building Control Authority (LUBCA), Khizar Hayat Khan, several housing societies ignored earlier directives to regularize their status despite being given sufficient time to obtain NOCs by submitting complete legal documentation. He said housing schemes operating without valid NOCs are illegal and pose a serious risk to the public; as such projects often collect money unlawfully from citizens in the name of residential plots. To ensure transparency, the verification of NOCs and other documents will now be carried out at LUBCA headquarters rather than at the TMA level. Authorities have also decided to take strict legal action against non-compliant societies, including sealing of offices, registration of criminal cases against owners, and coordination with concerned police stations. Khizar Hayat Khan said monitoring at the field level is being strengthened, warning that any negligence by officials in enforcing regulations will result in disciplinary action under relevant rules. He added that similar measures are being taken at the federal level and in other provinces to curb illegal housing operations. The public has been advised to independently verify the legal status and NOCs of housing societies before making any investment to avoid future financial losses. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025