Proposals on regularisation of illegal housing schemes reviewed

LAHORE:Various aspects of regularisation of illegal housing schemes were reviewed during the meeting of the special committee formed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, held under the chair of Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq at the Civil Secretariat, here Tuesday.

Co-convener of the committee, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, Director General LDA Tahir Farooq, Special Secretary Local Government Ms Asia Gull and others attended the meeting. SMBR Nabeel Javed gave a briefing on regularising the commercial use of agricultural lands.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed to propose measures regarding illegal schemes. He expressed his determination that the Punjab government would ensure the protection of public rights in private housing schemes. He figured out that preparation of effective master plan was necessary before approval of housing schemes. He asserted that administrative and environmental problems arise due to establishment of illegal schemes. It is important to regularise illegal housing societies so that maximum facilities can be provided to the residents there, he said.

The minister noted that delay in approval of housing schemes by government agencies also creates complications. The minister directed the LDA DG to review the introduction of one-window operation in the Deputy Commissioner’s office in this regard. The meeting also reviewed the proposal to reduce the number of departmental NOCs for LDA schemes. The minister said that the deficiencies in the current procedure would be eliminated through the forming an authority at the provincial level. He said that the facilities given in the master plan of the housing schemes shouldn’t be changed later on.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that apart from Lahore, a systematic procedure must be devised in other districts as well. He agreed that measures for sane use of valuable agricultural lands are essential. Ashiq Kirmani said that citizens face problems due to overselling of plots in some schemes. ‘The committee will propose effective recommendations to discourage this practice’, he pledged. Earlier, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq gave a presentation on various aspects to the committee.