RAWALPINDI: For the preparation of a 20-year development plan for District Rawalpindi, the District Planning and Design Committee on Monday approved a new land classification map of the district. The meeting of the committee was held with Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema in the chair in his office.

He asked the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and district council to issue notifications in this regard so work on the land revenue plan could be started soon by the consultant. The land classification map was prepared on the basis of build-up area of the district. After the notification, the consultant will prepare a 20-year future plan for development of Rawalpindi, for which wide spread consultation with stake holders will be conducted.

A senior official said that this plan would serve needs of the population for the next 20 years by creating an urban growth boundary and preserving agricultural land. He said that different types of zoning will be conducted along with separate zoning regulations for every zone.

He said that social infrastructure and urban economy will also be incorporated, adding that in the new land use rules, land use has been classified to prevent mushroom growth of housing societies and to secure agricultural land.

He said that land zoning in four tehsils has been done by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) including Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. He said that the local government had done the work in Rawalpindi tehsil, adding that the consultant company will also consult stakeholders. Urban demarcation will also be done in the plan. It will include social infrastructure and urban economy.

He said that classification has been prepared under different regulations for different zones so that the use of land for residential, commercial and agricultural purposes can be brought under rules and regulations.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2023