Minister stresses timely approval of housing schemes

LAHORE: Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has emphasised that there should be no unnecessary delay in the approval of housing schemes because lack of timely approval opens the doors of corruption.

He was presiding over a meeting of a special committee set up by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to draft proposals to regularise unplanned commercial use of agricultural lands. Co-convener of the committee and Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Advocate General Khalid Ishaq, SMBR Nabeel Javed, Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Secretary Housing, officers concerned and office-bearers of Developers Association were also present.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that by regularising illegal housing schemes, the rights of citizens can be protected in a better way. The convener of the committee said that the Punjab government was going to introduce the new procedure under the direction of the chief minister, which will ensure the completion of the approval process of private housing projects within the specified timeline.

During the meeting, a briefing was given on Property Transfer System (PTS) software. No scheme will be sanctioned in future without linkage with PTS.

Zeeshan Rafiq said that the property would be registered only when the data is uploaded on PTS. ‘Overselling of plots will become impossible due to PTS’, he said. He added that the proposed authority at the provincial level will be able to approve all master plans. The minister said that there should be no duplication in the work of development authorities, PHATA, Local Governments and RUDA across the province.

‘Keeping this aspect in mind, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed to prepare a comprehensive law. Suggestions are also being solicited from developers and other stakeholders in this regard,’ he said. Addressing the meeting, Agriculture Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani directed the officers concerned that the definition of illegal scheme should be clear.

‘From the platform of this committee, we will introduce reforms that will make it easier to define the responsibilities and scope of departments’, he pledged. He said that creating facilities for developers would also benefit the buyers.

Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed directed that comprehensive and easy features should be added to PST. Advocate General Punjab Khalid Ishaq said that the principle should be that the government department that collects fees from citizens should also provide services to them. He said that if every department works within its limits, problems will not arise.