May 04, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1429

LAHORE, May 3: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Dost Mohammad Khosa has directed the authorities concerned to pay special attention towards financial condition and resources of low-income people while planning residential facilities for them so that they can fully benefit the government’s efforts in this connection.

He was presiding over the first meeting of the working group set up for the provision of cheap residential facilities to low-income people, at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Saturday.

According to a handout, the chief minister said the location was of paramount importance for setting up of these localities as it was a proven fact that residential colonies set up in disregard to the needs and requirements of the people had failed to give a sense of ownership to dwellers.

He said the government wanted providing modern residential facilities to low-income people at affordable cost, but for this purpose, far-reaching and welfare-oriented policies would have to be evolved.

He said it had been observed that in most of housing schemes set up in the past, the allottees sold their plots and houses and their life remained unchanged.

He said the government would have to check this trend and ensure that only deserving and eligible shelterless people were benefited.

He said the process of allotment should be transparent and no allotment should be made to any such person who already owned a house.

He said the available state land was dwindling with the passage of time and a number of comparatively less beneficial projects were being executed on state land.

The housing department secretary informed the chief minister about the aims and objectives of the working group as well as its future plans.

Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Karia, the Board of Revenue senior member, the Planning and Development Board chairman, the finance secretary and other members of the working group were also present.

RECORD CHECKING: Punjab Revenue Minister Haji Mohammed Ishaq says checking of his department’s record has been started to expose corruption or malpractices of the previous government.

Talking to various delegations here on Saturday, the minister said an action would be taken against all the corrupt elements.