CM announces residential plots for journalists

LAHORE:Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced granting residential plots to the reporters, photographers and cameramen.

The CM announced allocating 15 percent quota in the residential scheme for the journalists working in the newsroom. Addressing a ceremony organised in the honour of journalists at CM Office, he stated that for the first time in the history of Punjab, 3,300 residential plots have been granted to journalists through a transparent balloting mechanism.

Reporters will be granted 7-marla residential plots while cameramen and photographers would be granted 3-marla residential plots through a transparent balloting. The eligibility for acquiring the plot will be advertised today (Monday). Ravi Urban Development Authority(RUDA) will inform the journalist community about the mode for acquiring the plots. Mohsin Naqvi stated that approximately, one year of the incumbent government has passed.

‘Whichever city I visit the only demand being made by the journalists is to do something substantial for their welfare. Today, we have fulfilled our promise.’ He said that he is fully aware that majority of the journalists lead a low profile lifestyle. Mohsin Naqvi apprised that a final shape to the journalists’ residential project has been given after holding a detailed consultation in this regard. ‘It was our utmost strive to find a suitable place and make a long-term planning as well. We have launched a residential scheme for the journalists. We have allocated 200 acres of land in a nice phase of RUDA to resolve residential problems of the journalist community.’

He informed that 2,300 seven-marla residential plots have been allocated for the reporters while 1,000 three-marla residential plots for the photographers and the cameramen where they can submit their applications while 15 percent quota allocated for the journalists of the newsroom.

The journalists can apply till 28th of January and balloting will be done before 8th February. RUDA will provide a briefing to the journalists for acquiring the plots. We tried to award 10-marla plot but the journalists are in a great number. We would try that the Bank of Punjab should provide loans to the journalists on soft terms for building their houses. Mohsin Naqvi remarked that the journalists who have already been granted plots will not be given plots again.

Apartments to be allotted to cops by 31st

The caretaker CM along with the Punjab Cabinet visited the Qurban Lines in severe coldness on Sunday. The CM and the Provincial Ministers reviewed progress being made on the project to build residences for the police in the Qurban Lines. IGP Dr Usman Anwar apprised the of the progress being made on the project. Mohsin Naqvi inspected the ongoing work for building residences and directed to complete the work at the earliest, adding that high-quality should be maintained.

He stated that excellent residences were being built for the police and being completed and allotted to police officers before 31st January.

It was informed during the briefing that 24 apartments in a six-storey building were being built for the police personnel in the Qurban Lines. Two lifts will also be installed in the apartments, he announced.