LAHORE, Sept 26: The Punjab government again promises to set up a public safety commission.

The body meant primarily for overseeing working of the police department is required under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance promulgated in the year 2001.

Punjab local government minister and Local Government Commission chairman Basharat Raja told a meeting here on Tuesday the government was making arrangements to establish the safety commission.

The meeting was held to brief the Local Government Commission on the performance of the City District Government Lahore. It was attended by members Shaikh Bashir, Chaudhry Riaz Ahmad and Naveed Chaudhry besides CM’s adviser Rana Ijaz, DCO Mohammad Ijaz and EDOs of all CDGL departments.

The minister said the municipal police and municipal magistracy system could be introduced in Lahore on a trial basis, and employees of the Wagah Town might be granted big city allowance.

He said the commission would visit all districts to have firsthand information about the problems being faced by local governments and review their performance.

He directed the CDGL to regularly send reports of the district council and district consultative committee to the commission for their perusal while its members should be briefed on development projects of the Lahore Development Authority and Wasa.

The minister wanted preparation of public transport, parking, traffic management and water supply and sewerage projects keeping in view requirements of the future.

Naveed Chaudhry objected to the commercialisation policy adopted by the CDGL resulting in encroachments and parking problems in residential localities. He said parking outside educational institutions of district nazim Mian Amer was also creating hurdles in traffic flow along the canal.

He was critical of the step of doing away with the NOC required from immediate neighbours for commercialisation of a residential plot.