The Islamabad High Court barred on Friday housing societies established outside the metropolis from using the federal capital’s name.

Societies should rename their projects, said the court as IHC Chief Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the order on a petition against the cancellation of registration of housing societies.

“Most of the societies have included the word ‘Islamabad’ in their names. The societies shall rename their projects so as to dispel any impression that they are situated within the limits of Islamabad Capital Territory,” said the court order.

“The purpose can be achieved by renaming the housing scheme/project under execution.”

The change of name would end the perception that such societies are located under the territory of Islamabad.

The court further ordered that publication in national and international newspapers should be issued at the expense of the societies by the registrar that their housing schemes were not situated within Islamabad Capital Territory.

“Enlarged copies of the advertisement shall be permanently displayed at visible places within and outside the main registered and site offices of the Societies for awareness of the general public,” it said.

The court ordered that the Registrar shall also hold an inquiry whether the societies have been registered in Islamabad and launched projects in Punjab without acquiring land in the federal capital merely to circumvent the ban imposed in that province. “The registrar shall conduct the inquiry, particularly with reference to the dates of their registration and the date when the ban was imposed in the Punjab.”