Islamabad, Jan 29: The Punjab government has taken a significant step towards regulating and curbing the development of illegal housing societies by establishing the Punjab Special Planning Authority (PSPA). The announcement was made following a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The meeting also focused on developing standardized designs and colors for commercial and residential areas, with an emphasis on making housing societies more environmentally friendly, pedestrian-friendly, and aligned with modern urban planning standards.
The Punjab Special Planning Authority (PSPA) will be tasked with several key functions:
- Zoning: This includes zoning commercial, residential, and agricultural land, and regularly updating district land-use plans every four years.
- Violation Monitoring: The authority will monitor and prevent unauthorized land use through a Violation Tracking Mechanism and will leverage a District Digital Wall to identify and address land misuse.
- Streamlined Approvals: The PSPA aims to fast-track approvals using digital data for quicker processing.
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In terms of district-level oversight, Deputy Commissioners will lead district special committees, which will include representatives from various service providers such as WAPDA, Sui Gas, and WASA.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also directed authorities to submit daily progress reports on the ongoing Lahore Development Plan, with a focus on resolving pending applications in the housing sector. She stressed the importance of effective town planning, warning that poor urban development has led to the unchecked rise of illegal housing societies in urban areas.
The government is taking these steps to ensure that urban development in Punjab follows sustainable practices and modern urban planning standards, with a goal to improve infrastructure and services across the region.
