Lahore: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has decided to establish the Punjab Special Planning Authority to curb illegal housing societies.

Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, chaired an important meeting to address the issue of illegal housing societies. During the session, a proposal was reviewed to introduce uniform colors and designs for commercial and residential areas separately.

The meeting also discussed making houses in housing societies more eco-friendly, pedestrian-friendly, and aligned with modern standards.

A briefing was given on the Lahore Development Plan, highlighting that e-tendering had resulted in savings of millions of rupees. A progress report on 414 schemes under Phase One of the Lahore Development Plan was also presented.

CM Maryam Nawaz instructed for a detailed daily report on the progress of the Lahore Development Plan, emphasizing that “town planning ensures a stable future.” She pointed out that due to “poor planning strategies, unregulated illegal housing societies are rapidly emerging in urban areas.”

In the meeting, a principled decision was made to establish the Punjab Special Planning Authority (PSPA) to regulate illegal housing societies. Additionally, the Chief Minister directed that all pending applications related to the housing sector be resolved immediately.

It was highlighted during the session that zoning will be carried out for commercial, residential, and agricultural lands. The PSPA will be responsible for the District Land Use Plan and Zoning, which will be reviewed every four years.

The meeting also agreed on establishing District Special Planning Committees across Punjab’s districts. It was informed that the respective Deputy Commissioners will head these committees, while representatives from WAPDA, Sui Gas, WASA, and other service-providing agencies will also be part of them.

On this occasion, Maryam Nawaz stated that a violation tracking mechanism will be introduced to prevent the illegal use of land. She added that a District Digital Wall will be used to identify land misuse, ensuring that applications are approved on a fast-track basis using digital data.