LAHORE, Dec 10: Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat has said a law was on the anvil for protecting the people against the land mafia and safeguarding their investment in the housing sector.
He said at the concluding session of the two-day international conference on "Investments and Quality in Housing and Urban Development" here on Friday promulgation of the law had been necessitated because a number of housing scheme sponsors sold the plots promising all kinds of civic amenities but disappeared without developing the schemes.
He said the government had already framed rules for protection of the investment in housing sector and submitted them for the chief minister's approval. The government would also consider the recommendations of the conference for increasing investment in the sector, he added.
Mr Basharat said the sector had been given the status of an industry by the Punjab government and fulfilled its commitment to create one million jobs during the current financial year as at least 40 industries were activated by it. The private sector should come up with projects of low-cost houses, he continued.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior vice-president Sohail Lashari said a review of the urban housing policy was long overdue as the census reports showed that the population in the cities had increased from 23 million in 1981 to 43 million in 1998.
Surveys had shown that 39 per cent people were living in single room houses, 31 in two rooms, 24 per cent in three to four rooms and only 6 per cent in five or more rooms.
He said the housing policy should meet the requirements of the people living in one and two room house in accordance with their ability to pay. Financing by the banks was encouraging but it required to be directed towards construction of houses instead of purchase of land.
The current spiral in real estate prices could put the initiatives upside down if allowed to continue. Prices of cement and other construction materials also required to be kept under control.
He said the government should launch projects like the one started in Faisalabad for low income groups in other cities as well. Road planners should also keep the requirements of the future in mind to prevent traffic problems. Availability of parking should also be ensured in all the high rise buildings. A new city should be planned along the motorway.
He stressed on skill development of the people associated with the industry. Housing and construction sectors could be turned into potential foreign exchange earning sectors through skill development, he added.
The country could increase its involvement in reconstruction efforts in the neighbouring country by developing projects instead of being content with the supply of materials.
Speaking on 'Transport linkages as an impetus for colonization of peri-urban areas of Lahore', Prof Dr Ghulam Abbas Anjum and Dr Rizwan Hameed said modes of transport influenced the development of urban areas.
