We’ve to put a stop to land-use changes: PM

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Housing Construction and Development was informed that 90 percent digitization of State lands has been completed in the Punjab, 96 percent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and 50 percent in Balochistan.

The meeting of the NCC on Housing, Construction and Development presided over by the prime minister on Thursday was briefed that under Phase-I of the mapping exercise this digitisation has been completed.

The meeting was further informed that construction projects would be allowed under regulations.

While receiving a briefing from Surveyor General of Pakistan, the prime minister remarked that cadastral mapping would help in development of an authentic land record database.

It would help in clearly identifying demarcation of land and thereby eliminate illegal encroachments, added the prime minister.

PM directs provinces to expedite legislation to stop land-use changes

Moreover, he said that the authentic database would also contribute towards enhancing revenues received from lands.

The prime minister further said that “land-use changes need to be checked where green vegetation areas are being converted to urban projects”.

He advised the provincial and the AJ&K governments to expedite legislation to put a stop to land-use changes.

Protection of green spaces and agricultural lands is essential for environmental considerations and to safeguard food security, he emphasised.

The chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) informed that with the help of cadastral maps, the CDA has started imposition of fines on encroachers and the amount collected is being used for compensation of general masses, who were defrauded by illegal housing societies.

Earlier, the prime minister also chaired a meeting to review progress on Ravi Urban Development Project and Central Business District, Lahore.

PM highlights importance of digitalised mapping

The prime minister directed the concerned authorities to expedite progress as these projects are very important for attracting foreign direct investment in the country.

The NCC meeting was attended by Federal Minister Fawad Ahmed, Minister of State Farrukh Habib, SAPM Dr Shehbaz Gill, SAPM Malik Amin Aslam, Minister Local Government Punjab Mian Mehmood Rasheed, Member National Assembly Aftab Siddiqui, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Lt Gen (retired) Anwar Ali Haider, Chairman FBR, Surveyor General of Pakistan, and senior officers.

Chief secretaries of Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, and AJ&K, as well as, additional chief secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa joined the meeting via video link.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021