‘Provincial authority vital to regularising use of agri land’

LAHORE: Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said it is necessary to establish an authority at the provincial level for approving the land master plan for housing schemes.

In this way, all facilities can also be provided to citizens and developers from a single platform. The establishment of the authority at the provincial level will bring transparency in certain matters.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the special committee formed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz regarding regularising the commercial use of agricultural lands at the Civil Secretariat on Monday.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, representatives from real estate sector and officers concerned attended the meeting.

The proposals to regularise the commercial use of agricultural lands in Punjab and the establishment of a provincial authority for approving the land master plan for housing schemes were considered on this occasion.

Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed briefed the meeting on the procedure of property transfer. Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that complexity could arise if different government departments are doing the same job.

He said that unplanned commercial use of agricultural lands near towns has to be regularised as schemes launched without master plans not only create administrative but also environmental problems.

“We will also introduce new legislation for transparency in commercial schemes”, he vowed. Zeeshan Rafiq further said that new housing projects are necessary with the increase in population, however, it is also equally important to prevent the establishment of illegal schemes.

He said that steps are being taken to stabilise the developers and real estate sector so that the employment of the people associated with this sector can be protected. He maintained that the citizens are often exploited due to schemes launched without proper approval. “Protection of people’s money and rights will be ensured” he pledged.

The provincial minister directed the Punjab Land Record Authority to make the new setup fully digitised so that the citizens get maximum convenience online. On this occasion, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the regularisation by the Punjab government will increase public confidence in the real estate sector as well.

The representatives of the real estate sector praised the initiative of the Punjab government. “We will provide all possible support for the success of this people-friendly initiative of Punjab Chief Minister”, they assured.