Pakistan’s Biggest Real Estate Scam? 42,000 Plot Files Sold for Just 6,000 Plots

Authorities have uncovered one of the largest housing frauds in Pakistan’s history around the Islamabad Cooperative Housing Society.

According to officials investigating the case, around 36,000 plot files were allegedly issued illegally despite the society not possessing sufficient land for those allotments.

Sources familiar with investigations by the National Accountability Bureau Rawalpindi and Islamabad told local media that the society’s approved layout plan and available land bank only allowed issuance of around 6,000 files.

However, former office bearers and alleged facilitators are accused of issuing nearly 42,000 files, creating a massive gap between available land and allotted plots. Investigators said approximately 36,000 files have so far been identified as illegal, excessive, or unsupported by available land, raising serious questions regarding alleged fraud, mismanagement, and abuse of authority spanning several years.

The investigation further revealed that records of payment and allotment for thousands of files are either missing or unavailable. Officials said many citizens were allegedly sold plot files for land that either did not exist, lacked legal approval, or was never properly documented.

According to reports, the huge discrepancy between the society’s land bank and the number of issued files suggests that fake, duplicate, and excessive files were systematically sold to collect billions of rupees from the public.

So far, investigators have identified financial irregularities exceeding Rs. 16 billion, although authorities believe the amount could increase significantly as more financial transactions and records are examined.

NAB officials confirmed that seven suspects linked to the former management committee and a land dealing company have been arrested in connection with the case.

Those arrested include former Secretary General Mehdi Khan Shakir, former Treasurer Malik Muhammad Nawaz, former Executive Member Muhammad Arshad, and four individuals associated with Land Stock Dealing Point Company, including Munir Akhtar, Ali Mahmood, Yameen Malik, and Ghulam Jailani.

Meanwhile, an accountability court in Islamabad granted NAB a seven-day physical remand of the accused for further investigation, recovery of documentary evidence, tracing of financial transactions, and identification of additional alleged facilitators involved in the scandal.

Officials familiar with the investigation said the case may expand further as teams continue examining the role of other individuals connected to the society’s administration, land management, and financial affairs. Authorities expect additional arrests as the investigation progresses.

All credit goes to the govt. People can’t even afford basic online items anymore

Mashallah, ab un afsaron ko bhi chor do or iske pese bhi awam se lelo