Housing schemes face CCP probe over misleading ‘Islamabad’ ads
ISLAMABAD – For property buyers, the location of a project can make or break an investment, especially in major cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. The Competition Commission of Pakistan has now stepped in to review housing schemes that are alleged to be based in Islamabad despite being located outside the city’s official limits.
The commission launched an investigation into the advertising campaigns of several housing projects on allegations that their advertisements may have misled consumers about where the schemes were actually located.
MS. Eighteen housing projects are among the developments facing scrutiny. Islamabad-based journalist Zahid Gashkuri reported that the housing schemes under review allegedly marketed themselves as Islamabad projects even though their sites fall outside the official administrative limits of the city.
The regulator is now examining whether such representations may amount to deceptive or misleading marketing under the Competition Act. Officials will review advertisements and other promotional materials to determine whether potential property buyers have been misled about the actual location or status of the project.
The inquiry will also examine the marketing practices adopted by the housing schemes and whether the claims used in their campaigns are in line with competition law.
The law allows the CCP to impose a financial penalty of up to Rs 7.5 crore or, where applicable, an amount equal to the higher of 10 per cent of the annual turnover of the undertaking concerned.
The development reflects increased regulatory attention to real estate advertising, particularly when location-related claims may influence consumers’ property purchase or investment decisions.
All housing societies of Lahore will be audited anew.
The post Housing schemes face CCP probe over misleading ‘Islamabad’ advertisements appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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