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WEEKLY
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| Punjab Governor’s House, palatial residences face demolition |
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Privatization Board has recommended demolition of British Raj relics, proposing that hundreds of kanals of highly expensive state land being used as the Punjab Governor House in Lahore and sprawling residences of the district administration officials, provincial secretaries and some key members of the judiciary be demolished.
If approved and implemented, the plan would lead to the sale of 600 kanals of Governor’s House, Lahore, palatial residences of bureaucrats in GOR-I and GOR-II (government officers’ residences), 56 kanal residence of Lahore chief justice, 24 kanal residence of additional chief secretary and many more.
Although, the Punjab Privatization Board has set its eyes on tens of billions of rupees through the sale of “redundant” properties and by rationalising the housing facilities of the high and powerful in the province, sources said that the Punjab government would require extraordinary resolve to undo the colonial lifestyle of bureaucracy.
In its presentation given to chief secretary Punjab, the chairman of the Punjab Privatization Board has recommended the sale of surplus immovable property in the ownership of the province, in a fair and transparent manner, to generate resources and direct the same towards the welfare of the people. On top of this surplus property is the Governor’s House, Lahore, which is spread over an area of 600 kanals in the heart of Lahore. The Governor House could be reduced to 5-6 kanals, an official source said.
Though it sounds unbelievable during these modern times, such is the lavish living of civil bureaucracy in the Punjab that official residence of a mid-career executive district officer (EDO), Sheikhupura, is spread over an area of 64 kanals.
The official residence of commissioner Bahawalpur is built on 72 kanals whereas the District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sialkot, who is said to be using eight official vehicles, lives in a 50 kanal house.
The official residence of the chief justice of the Lahore High Court is spread over an area of 56 kanals. The official residence of the additional chief secretary in Lahore is built on 24 kanals whereas 20 to 25 houses of the GOR-I, occupied by the members of bureaucracy, are constructed on 6-8 kanal each. The newly-built houses in GOR 1 are of 2 to 4 kanals each.
In its briefing, the privatization board said that the funds to be raised through the sale of these government properties, would be used for financing social economic development in areas like infrastructure, health and education.
The fund would provide fast cash for government, which is in dire need of money to reduce large budget deficits.To deflect pressure from city centres, the Privatisation Board also recommended city extension through initiation of new city projects, townships and better urban planning.
Besides suggesting the right sizing of government residences like the Governor house, commissioner houses, district officers houses, the board also recommended relocation of establishments like jails, Agriculture Research Center and godowns by providing alternate plans.
The Privatisation Board also recommended measures to attract foreign investment for farming, housing and industrial activities on prime state lands available. In order to make Punjab an egalitarian society, the privatization board talked of harnessing material resources of the province and distributing them as best as possible to serve the common good.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
