RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has decided to hand over administrative control of the Urban Housing Society Satellite Town from the Department of Housing to the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC).

A senior divisional administration official told Dawn that all the matters will be settled by the housing and local government secretaries.

The case will be sent to the provincial cabinet for final approval.

He said the provincial government has asked the local administration to make arrangements, after which the RMC will be responsible for providing all the civic facilities.

When contacted, Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said there are administrative problems that need to be resolved.

Mr Mehmood, who is also the administrator of Rawalpindi, said: “The secretaries of both the departments have been apprised of the situation. The matter is now in the Cabinet Division for approval.”

The Satellite Town scheme was set up by the government in 1952-54 under the Resettlement Plan through the Public Works Department.

Municipal services were being provided by the municipal corporation, which also took over building and land use after the devolution plan in 2001.

The land acquisition record of the scheme is with the Saddar assistant commissioner. According to the working paper to be prepared for the change of administrative control of the town, the scheme consists of six blocks (A to F).

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2020