LAHORE: With a new era of composite development, Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Thursday that the new local bodies system will empower the people in real sense and the government will take the development process to the doorsteps of the people by transforming local bodies' institutions.

"Local bodies' representatives will be empowered and the new system will bring an end to the status quo; it will empower the citizens and public problems will be solved at the grassroots," the CM said, while presiding over a meeting about Local Bodies at his office.

Addressing the meeting, the CM stated that local bodies had failed to resolve public problems in the past. He added most modern machinery is being provided to the local bodies for cleanliness and made it clear that no negligence will be tolerated in the cleanliness of drains for draining out rainwater.

Moreover, in a meeting with Chairman Punjab Board of Investment & Trade (PBIT), Sardar Tanvir Ilyas, the CM stated that Punjab has emerged as the best province for investment and investors are provided facilities under one roof through the one-window operation. "No investment-related file will be delayed nor anyone will be allowed to create hurdles in the process of boosting investment," he emphasised.

A wonderful package has been chalked out for the construction sector by the Punjab government, he said, adding: "One window policy has been introduced for getting NOCs relating to the construction sector; the approval of maps and construction-related NOCs is made possible through e-khidmat centres."

The approval of maps for the construction of residential or commercial buildings will be done in 30 days while NOC of commercialization conversion will be given in 45 days. Similarly, approval of new housing schemes will be given through development authorities and TMAs in 60 days and 75 days, respectively, he said.

The CM said the quality of life is being improved through e-governance culture and ease of doing business has been formulated for investors and the general public.

It is sanguine that an outdated system has been made easy through the latest technology, he said. The billions of rupees will be invested through Ravi Riverfront Urban Project which will prove a game-changer initiative. On the other side, 13 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are being established for investors and the investment will create new job opportunities, he said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020