LAHORE: The preparation of master plans for 11 districts in Punjab is currently in full swing. Land use classification maps of these districts have been sent to the deputy commissioners for approval and issuance of notification.

The Local Government and Community Development Department’s Project Management Unit (PMU) will then prepare land-use plans that will forecast the districts’ future growth for the next 20 years.

Initially, 14 districts were to have master plans prepared, but the government cancelled the notification of making Wazirabad, Taunsa, and Kot Addu tehsils new districts.

The master plan preparation project aims to mitigate land-use exploitation, diminishing agricultural lands, mushroom growth of housing schemes, and capacity issues of local governments. It also aims to achieve compact development through preparation of land-use and zoning plans, balanced spatial and economic growth, preservation of prime agricultural land through zoning regulations and policies, and enhanced inter-city and intra-city accessibility and mobility through proposals of transportation and connectivity plans.

The work related to the preparation of master plans is currently underway in the districts of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Okara, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, and Vehari. Under phase-2, the master plans for Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, Jhelum, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Attock, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Khushab, Minawali, Chiniot, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Pakpattan, Lodhran, Layyah, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Murree and Talagang will be prepared by the PMU.

According to Umme Laila Naqvi, PMU project director, the PC-I for phase-I was approved in June last year, and the work related to hiring consultancy firms was launched in July and completed on Oct 30. After making inception reports of 11 districts, the land-use classification maps of these districts were finally prepared, and a special report on the industrial importance of Sialkot was also prepared. Field verification was carried out through data confirmation from planning officers and field inspectors of respective districts while preparing the maps. The PC-I for phase-2 is currently under consideration of the departments concerned.

The Punjab minister for local bodies, Ibrahim Murad, has directed for the completion of master plans of 11 districts at the earliest, keeping in view future development requirements. He emphasized safeguarding agricultural land and earmarking green areas in these plans.

He also directed for creating economic corridors in these districts to encourage business and commercial activities for providing employment opportunities to citizens at a local level and to reduce migration to big cities.

In a separate incident, the minister ordered the suspension of two employees of Faisalabad Parking Company for being involved in torturing an elderly citizen who had come to get free flour at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, after receiving a complaint through social media.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2023