RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government wants to introduce same rules and regulations for development authorities in all the districts.

This was stated by Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Mian Mahmoodur Rashid while inaugurating the first conference of chairmen and directors general of development authorities held under the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

The minister said rules for low cost housing projects will be made in a few days under which Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency will be given the authority to prepare low cost housing projects.

“The government is also preparing joint venture rules under which government agencies will be able to build affordable housing in collaboration with private partners,” he said.

The minister said a committee comprising three DGs, three chairmen and a representative of the office of secretary housing would be notified in three to four days.

The committee will present proposals in the light of which rules will be finalised and implemented after a Punjab cabinet decision. Implementing these rules will increase the revenue of development authorities.

Illegal housing schemes and buildings can also be brought into the tax net.

“To get all the water and sanitation agencies out of the revenue deficit, it was suggested to increase water charges.

The minister also asked the development authorities to select a suitable site for the Naya Pakistan Housing project.

The minister said such conferences should be held after every two to three months at other authorities.

RDA Director General Ammara Khan briefed the participants on the projects of kitchen gardening, rainwater harvesting and creation of economic zones along the proposed Ring Road.During the conference, amendments to the Private Housing Schemes Rules 2010 and a proposal to introduce similar rules in all developmental authorities were also presented.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2020