LAHORE, Oct 19: The Punjab government on Wednesday decided to approve building plans of every plaza initially in Lahore in two stages, making it compulsory for the builders to hire architects and obtain from them fitness certificates before constructing every storey.

The decision was taken at a meeting, which was presided over by Local Government Minister Basharat Raja who asked all the participating TMOs and other staff to inspect the under-construction buildings in the city in a month and ensure that they strictly followed the building safety laws.

The meeting was convened in view of large-scale violation of building laws in the city, posing a threat to the lives of people. The minister reportedly admonished the officers for turning a blind eye to the violations.

It was decided that the building plans would be approved in two stages instead of one. In the first stage the builder would have to construct a parking lot after which the government would approve the plan of the plaza.

Architects to be hired by the builders would have to regularly inspect the buildings and issue a certificate after the construction of a storey guaranteeing that the structure could withstand further construction on it. The town staff would regularly inspect the under-construction buildings and plazas with the assistance of the local government XEN concerned to ensure the application of the safety rules in letter and spirit.

All TMOs and TOs would strictly enforce the building bye-laws in their respective areas and would be punished in case of any violation. They were asked to remove all encroachments in their respective areas in a week.

Officials to be designated by the local government minister would independently inspect buildings in all areas and stern action would be taken against the TMOs and TOs in case of complaint of any violation in their respective areas.

The minister established a special cell in the local government department, which would monitor reports of the enforcement of the bye-laws on a daily basis.

After putting things in order in Lahore, the network of having the laws enforced in letter and spirit would be spread all over the province.

Officials said the meeting was held after reports that a large number of plazas, multi-storey buildings and basements were being constructed in the city in violation of the rules, causing loss to the government in the shape of related fees which are evaded and posing a threat to the lives of people. The builders were blocking service roads and footpaths by dumping the construction material and debris there without any authorization, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the people.

The housing colonies were not following the government rules and the construction companies illegally displaying their advertisement hoardings all over the city.

Hundreds of fruit and vegetable vendors were occupying almost all roads and streets in the city. Shopkeepers, too, were extending their shops by occupying large portions of roads in front of their establishments.

The service roads and greenbelts of these roads had been turned into parking lots of hotels, and private educational institutions.

Another major report was that these problems were being created with the connivance of the TMA staff in Lahore, who either failed to have the related laws enforced or had become touts of the violators.