LAHORE: Keeping in view the increasing population as well as various urban issues, the government has finally decided to bifurcate Lahore City district into City and Saddar districts. The new arrangement is likely to result in the creation of five new tehsils — Ferozewala, Thokar Niaz Baig, Kahna, Kot Abdul Malik and Harbanspura — in the proposed districts.

According to an official document, the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) has been asked to expedite the preparation of a PC-2 for carrying out impact assessment study for geographic and social/cultural cohesion by hiring consultancy services under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Rules with a direction to retain the historic charter of the city during the division.

The two proposed districts, according to the official document available with Dawn, are likely to consist of five tehsils (sub-divisions) each having various qanungois/revenue circles (law expounders). The City district will likely consist of City, Thokar Niaz Baig, Model Town, Kahna and Raiwind tehsils, while the Saddar district will consist of Ferozewala, Kot Abdul Malik, Shalimar, Cantt and Harbanspura tehsils.

The City tehsil will comprise qanungois of Lahore Khaas, Shahdara, Naulakha, Sanda and some others mentioned in the master plan, including the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) and revenue estates of Sharaqpur tehsil. Thokar Niaz Baig tehsil would consist of Thokar Niaz Baig, Chuhng and Maraka qanungois; Model Town consist of Ichhra and Nawan Kot qanungois; Kahna will consist of Kahna, Kamahan and Pandoki qanungois; while Raiwind tehsil will include Raiwind, Paji, Manga and five mauzas from Kasur district.

Move to result in creation of five new tehsils within proposed districts

The qanungois proposed to be added to Ferozewala tehsil will be areas from GT Road to the east side, including Kala Khatai road till Shalimar tehsil along with four Ruda revenue estates of Muridke tehsil; and Kot Abdul Malik tehsil will have areas from GT Road to the west side, including Lahore-Sheikhupura road and Lahore-Jaranwala road up to Sharaqpur tehsil.

The Shalimar tehsil will include Baghbanpura, Lakhudair and Benaseen; Cantt comprise Cantt, Heer and Jahman; while Harbanspura tehsil will consist of Jallo, Fatehgarh, Barki and Bhangali qanungois.

According to the minutes of a meeting held on Dec 3 under the chairmanship of Board of Revenue Senior Member Babar Hayat Tarar: “The participants were apprised that the meeting of the technical group convened to discuss the progress upon the implementation of decision taken during the meeting of technical group held on Nov 26, 2020. The Lahore DC explained that the proposal of creation of two new administrative districts namely Lahore City and Lahore Saddar in present Lahore city district has been discussed with the Sheikhupura DC and further rationalised.”

The participants were further apprised that PC-2 for impact assessment study for geographic and social cultural cohesion was being prepared and would be submitted to the planning and development department board for the provision of funds.

Other issues discussed in the meeting were the assessment for revenue potential, financial implications of upgrading the existing facilities, employment opportunities, public facilitation and infrastructure development, creation of new posts and subsequent requirement of funds, detailed financial feasibility of revenue generation through different sources such as mining, excise, taxation, agriculture, income tax, stamp duty and others etc, and details of major public service deliveries such as health, education and others.

The minutes also stated that the Lahore DC had briefed that a meeting was held on Dec 2 with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Central Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry wherein a presentation was made regarding the proposed division of Lahore district and various modalities discussed. The Sheikhupura DC had proposed that Ferozewala tehsil be renamed Ravi tehsil and the motorway be declared as a boundary between the two newly proposed districts.

The finance additional secretary was of the opinion that considering the motorway (M2) as a boundary between the two proposed districts would not be an appropriate idea. He further proposed setting up of a separate local government system in each of the proposed districts. The Board of Revenue secretary (revenue) endorsed the proposal for inclusion of all mauzas of Ferozewala tehsil into Lahore City district and the taxes (secretary) proposed that the partition of other large cities around the world be studied for guidance.

The meeting decided that Ferozewala tehsil should be proposed to be included as a whole in the proposed Lahore City district by excluding it from Sheikhupura district. It also decided that civic agencies would be divided for better service delivery to the people; and major public service deliveries such as health, education and others mapped up to tehsil level.

“Prior to the establishment of the offices of SSPs/DPOs with proper infrastructure, creation of new posts shall be discussed with the IG police, Punjab and equal realignment of police divisions shall be carried out in tehsils proposed to be created. Similarly, political consensus will be developed regarding the proposal of creation of new administrative districts in present Lahore City district,” the minutes stated.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2020