Effective mechanism for use of agricultural land being made: Zeeshan

LAHORE:The meeting of the special committee formed by chief minister held under the chairmanship of Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq at the Civil Secretariat.

Co-convener of the committee, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, officials concerned and representatives of developers attended the meeting. During the meeting, consideration was given to regulating the unnecessary commercial use of fertile agricultural land. On this occasion, the working group formed by the special committee submitted its report.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that an effective mechanism for the use of agricultural land was being made on the instructions of the chief minister. In this regard, measures are also being considered to solve the problems faced by the housing sector, he said. He apprised the participants that the establishment of the authority at the provincial level would provide one-window facility to the developers. The minister said that unplanned housing schemes create problems for buyers and the people living nearby.

‘Due to effective legislation by the Punjab government, the confidence of the citizens in the housing sector will increase’, he assured. Zeeshan Rafiq said that duplication of same job at different departments creates complications.

However, he said, by creating a centralised mechanism for housing schemes, the administrative decisions of the districts can be monitored. The provincial minister said that the new mechanism would monitor master plans across the province through satellite surveillance. Addressing the meeting, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that along with the stability of the housing sector, the interests of the citizens should also be protected.

‘A solid system has to be devised keeping in mind the convenience of developers to pave the way for only legal housing projects’, he said. He said that discouraging illegal housing schemes was the need of the hour. The new legislation is an important step in this direction, he concluded.