LAHORE, Sept 10: Top bureaucrats in Punjab will drive through Lahore’s roads on Thursday (today) to inspect commercialisation in residential areas and suggest a uniform policy.
The committee of the top bureaucrats was constituted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif under Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood some time ago to suggest how to regulate commercialisation of residential areas.
Mr Mehmood and the committee members have been given three presentations by the officials concerned, but they are reportedly dissatisfied with them.
Officials say the committee found contents of the presentations conflicting and planned a visit to the city to get the first-hand knowledge about the situation. Now the chief secretary plans to visit the city along with other committee members -- Additional Chief Secretary Javaid Aslam, Secretary Services Fawad Hassan Fawad, secretary housing and director-generals of the Lahore Development Authority, the Parks and Horticulture Authority and environment.
The committee is to assess commercialisation in certain areas and its potential in others. It is also required to check whether the wanton activity is affecting historical places or buildings. It is expected to submit a report to the chief minister in one week.
POLLUTION: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the government is paying special attention to provide a pollution-free atmosphere.
According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, he said this in a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat wherein representative of private organization Azfar Burki briefed about environmental pollution caused by traffic and measures for its control. Provincial secretary environment was also present.
The chief minister said that a comprehensive strategy would be adopted for controlling pollution caused by emission of vehicles because a pollution-free atmosphere left a positive impact on the life of citizens.
Mr Shahbaz said that the three on-going projects to check environmental pollution would help maintain a pollution-free atmosphere after their completion.
He directed that a joint meeting of transport and environment departments be convened at the earliest and a complete planning be evolved in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azfar Burki said that he wanted to establish 10 testing stations in Punjab for curbing pollution caused by vehicles.