RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Rawalpindi retired Capt Mohammad Mahmood on Tuesday said the district administration of Rawalpindi has been directed to allocate land for establishment of cemeteries for the Hindu and Christian communities.

He said the additional deputy commissioner (revenue) was working on the fulfillment of the genuine demand of the communities.

Mr Mahmood said there was no suitable plot of land within the limits of the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) which could be used by the Hindu and Christian communities for burial.

He stated this while presiding over a meeting at the RMC. The meeting was attended by RMC Chief Officer Syed Ali Abbas Bukhari and other senior officials.

The commissioner said modern meters would be used to reduce electricity consumption of streetlights and in this regard Lesco has decided to survey the streetlights in Committee Chowk area. The survey will be completed in a month.

He said under the Punjab Municipal Services Programme, RMC has significantly improved its working and in the last three weeks the utilisation of funds increased by 10 per cent.

He said in line with the market trend, a 10pc annual increase in the rents of shops of the RMC at the general bus stand had been planned and consultants were being approached keeping in view the legal requirements.

He said eviction notices have been issued by the RMC to illegal occupants of government houses. Legal action would be taken if the houses were not vacated.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020