LAHORE: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Wednesday to launch a grand operation against land grabbers, besides devising an effective mechanism to discourage illegal occupants.

“We have decided to constitute a task force that will oversee the operations launched by the LDA and other civic agencies against the land grabbers, besides dealing with the public complaints in this regard,” the CM said while presiding over a meeting.

Mr Buzdar said the operation would start with action against the most influential and powerful land mafia and there would be no “settlement” with such groups over the issue.

The land mafia would have to surrender before the state and handover possession of the plots/properties to their actual owners.

He ordered the LDA director general to immediately start the process for auctioning its 22 petrol pump sites in Lahore.
“The process must be transparent and in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he sought.

The chief minister also ordered the top authorities to replace the police officials deputed at the LDA for security and other purposes with new ones.

Earlier, Punjab Housing Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed briefed the chief minister about the LDA’s role, scope of work etc.

PAF: Air officer commanding, central air command of Pakistan Air Force Air Vice Marshal Irfan Ahmad called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar here on Wednesday.

Matters of mutual interest and professional activities of PAF came under discussion. The chief minister paid tributes to the PAF for best protection of air frontiers and its competence in professional matters.

The defence day and PAF day are celebrated to pay tributes to brave sons of the nation, he said.

DATA: The city administration on Wednesday sought data from the labour department regarding the current human strength employed in the private sector industry.

“Since we want to ensure recruitment of differently able persons in the industry as per their 3 per cent quota, the department must provide us data in this regard,” Syed Tauqeer Kazmi, Lahore’s additional deputy commissioner (general) said.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2018