LAHORE, Nov 17: Lahore Division Commissioner Khusro Pervez has constituted a committee headed by DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta to submit a master plan for the uplift of Badshahi Mosque and its surrounding areas within a week.

The commissioner ordered the constitution of the committee, comprising officials of the Auqaf Department, Parks and Horticulture Authority, Solid Waste Management and Archeology Department, during a visit to the Badshahi Mosque, Minar-i-Pakistan and Hazoori Bagh here on Monday.

He expressed displeasure over heaps of garbage in the vicinity of the mosque and the use of wipers and date palm leaves for cleaning its floor. He ordered purchase of machines for the purpose.

Mr Pervez directed the Auqaf secretary to make a formal request for increase in the budget for the cleanliness of the mosque.

He said the proposed master plan should contain details of expenditure to be incurred on the cleanliness and repair on daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly bases.

The portions requiring repairs on daily and monthly basis should also be identified.

Preservation of historical monuments, he said, was among the top priorities of the Punjab government. The management should divide the compound of Badshahi Mosque in nine portions and deploy staff for their cleaning.

The Archeology department and the mosque committee should arrange the repair of the floor and wiring within a week.

The commissioner later visited the Minar-i-Pakistan and was informed that its lift had been lying closed for public for the past four years after suicides. He directed opening of the lift after fixing protective grills around the balconies.