LAHORE: The Lahore administration has intensified its anti-encroachment drive across all 10 tehsils of the city district, clearing several major and small thoroughfares, including commercial and other busy areas, of temporary and permanent encroachments.

According to Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Musa Raza, the administration, in collaboration with the enforcement wing of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and other civic agencies, has increased the number of anti-encroachment operations in the Punjab capital, retrieving the state land and easing public mobility.

He said in a press release that in the last 24 hours, the official teams seized a large number of goods displayed by the shopkeepers on footpaths and other public passages. He said 19 truckloads of confiscated goods were removed, clearing pedestrian pathways and allowing smoother movement for daily commuters.

The DC claimed that key locations, such as Lorry Adda, Data Darbar and GT Road, have been completely cleared of illegal setups, transforming cluttered zones into accessible areas that support better traffic management and safer navigation.

As part of these vital actions, the administration removed 418 encroachments and 608 illegal banners, addressing long-standing issues that had hindered urban aesthetics and functionality, he added.

“Our proactive approach has prioritised the complete elimination of encroachments as a top agenda item, with the clear objective of providing residents with spacious roads and uncluttered pathways that enhance overall quality of life in Lahore. The administration’s strategy emphasises upholding the rule of law, with no leniency granted to violators, ensuring that public spaces remain protected from unlawful occupations,” the DC explained in the press release.

He said that the initial assessments indicated improvements in pedestrian access and vehicle flow, particularly in high-traffic zones like Anarkali Bazaar, where similar past campaigns had already shown positive results.

By digitising monitoring processes and deploying dedicated squads, the district administration has streamlined its response time, allowing for quicker identification and removal of violations, he said.

FREE LAND FOR HOUSES: The Punjab government says that over 367,000 people have so far applied for plots under ‘Apna Ghar Apni Zameen’ programme.

The initial screening process for all applicants is underway, after which free plots will be allotted through balloting.

It was stated in a briefing to the minister for housing given by the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) here on Tuesday.

It was informed during the briefing that in Jhelum district, 730 plots will be distributed, in Kasur 388, in Faisalabad 257, in Lodhran 218, and in Okara 130 plots will be given to the applicants through balloting.

Similarly, Layyah will receive 55 plots, Bhakkar 52, Sahiwal 33, Sargodha 25, Khushab 24, Bahawalnagar 20, and Rajanpur to get 15 plots, enabling the deserving families to own land for their houses.

Furthermore, Mandi Bahauddin will receive 17 plots, Attock 11, Gujrat 8, Bahawalpur 7, Vehari 4, Jhang 4, and Chiniot district will be given two plots forthe homeless.

Speaking on the occasion, the housing minister said the lower and middle-income families in 19 districts will be made landowners through the programme.

He said that in the first phase, the Punjab chief minister will distribute plots among 2,000 middle-income families.

He clarified that under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme, all deserving families will also be provided an interest-free loan of up to Rs1.5 million each to build their houses.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025