QUETTA: The Balochistan government at a meeting on Monday expressed serious concern over construction of commercial plazas and buildings in residential areas of the provincial capital. It decided to ban conversion of houses into commercial plots with immediate effect.

The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, decided to make legislation for amending the rules and regulations of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) and Quetta Development Authority (QDA) for banning construction of commercial plazas and buildings in residential areas of Quetta.

The meeting reviewed the master plans for the development of Quetta city and 30 other towns of the province and made important decisions regarding the Quetta development package and other issues.

The Urban Planning and Development secretary informed the meeting that the ongoing tender process for hiring of consultant services for the preparation of Quetta Master Plan would be completed by the 30th of this month.

The meeting decided to put a ban on work on new roads constructed under the Quetta package, including Joint Road, Sariab Road, Sabzal Road, Nawa Killi, Patel Road and Prince Road.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2020