LAHORE, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday decided to grant proprietary rights to the residents of katchi abadis in the province, including 49 in Lahore. He ordered provision of all facilities over there.

The chief minister took the decision while presiding over a meeting in which he also directed the heads of all development authorities to prepare a package for the katchi abadis.

The decision would be applicable to the katchi abadis set up on the Punjab government land before March 1985 in Lahore, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Okara, Sheikhupura, Khanewal, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha.

He said provision of residential facilities to the deserving people was the hallmark of the Pakistan Muslim League. The issue of granting proprietary rights to the residents of katchi abadis was pending since 1985, which had now been resolved, he added.

He also said a comprehensive plan had been chalked out to provide facilities like education and health to people at these colonies. The CM directed the authorities concerned to ensure implementation of development schemes over there within stipulated time, warning that no laxity in this regard would be tolerated.

The katchi abadis whose residents have been given ownership rights in Lahore are Ali-Mujahid Colony, Amritsari Mohallah, Babar Colony, Deenpur Kothey, Hajikot, Harbanspura No 1, Iqbal Park, Begumpura, Katcha Mason Road, Qalandarpura, Ittefaq Colony Nos 1 and 2, Kazi Mohallah, Rehmat Colony/Nisar Colony, Omar Colony, Begumpura/Mahmoodabad, Shah Di Khooi, Katcha Masoom Shah, Abu Bakr Block, New Bhabra, Purana Bhabra, Old Gopal Nagar, Guru Mangat, Mariam Colony, Mohallah Gowalian, Muftpura, Nabipura No 3, Najaf Colony, Naseerabad and Plot Nos 6, 7, 32 and 36 (Shah Jamal).

Qadirabad, Shah Noor Colony, Islampura, Shahdara, Janki Devi, Mandar Bhagat Ram, Mian Mir Colony, Mills Area (Shahdara), Shah Jamal, Takia Pir Kutab Shah, Tibba Baba Farid, Ara Channan Din, Gopalnagar New, Henry Key, Mustafabad, Inayat Colony, St Mary Colony and Teh Zaildaran are also among these.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood called the decision historic and said it would provide a great relief to the poor.

Law Minister Raja Basharat, chief minister’s adviser Jehangir Tarin, P&D chairman Humayun Farshori, Katchi Abadis Director-General Imran Ali Gardezi and other senior officials attended the meeting.