Investment in real estate business to be encouraged: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that livelihood of a large number of people attached with the real estate business.

The government will encourage investment in other sectors, including property business. He was speaking on the occasion of his visit to ongoing "property expo" at the Lahore Expo Centre as a guest of honour. The minister visited the various stalls installed at the exhibition and expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements made to guide the public.

The property dealers gave a briefing to Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique on various housing schemes. Zeeshan Rafique said that new property projects are necessary to meet the residential needs of the growing population.

"Exhibition of property schemes will provide better awareness and guidance to the public", he said. Talking to the media on this occasion, Zeeshan Rafique said that the government of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz started working on the preparation of local body elections without wasting any time.

"In this regard, a special committee constituted by the Chief Minister has completed 70, 80 percent of the work,” said the minister. He said that urban and rural areas have their own needs.

"Unfortunately this historic division was abolished in the current local bodies Act, which added complications", he regretted. He pledged that present Punjab government will take care of this aspect in the new bill so that the urban and rural population gets its due right.

Replying to a question, he said that the cleanliness system will be outsourced at the tehsil level under the Suthra Punjab programme. "After which a uniform sanitation system will be implemented throughout the province", he concluded.