Work on master planning of 28 Punjab cities in fast pace

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday chaired the meeting of National Coordination Committee on Housing wherein he was apprised that work on master planning of 28 cities of Punjab province with over 60 million population, was going on fast pace.

Federal ministers, special assistants to prime minister and relevant senior officials attended the meeting. The senior officials from four provinces joined through video link.
The relevant authorities informed the meeting that the efforts were being made to complete the preparation of master plans at the earliest.

It was informed that the master plans would encompass the utility of land, economic development, basic infrastructure and financial planning of institutions, tourism and cultural heritage, transport and comprehensive planning for protection against emergency situation and natural calamities.

The meeting was apprised of the status of amendments in master plans as well as the method for future modifications.

It was told that land policy was also being changed and special commercialization committee was being formed besides introducing the categorization of the land. Moreover, the policy of high-rise building was being adopted to accommodate maximum people in minimum space to protect green spaces.

Regarding KPK, it was informed that master plan of 20 main cities including nine cities of merged districts, would be completed within stipulated time that would ensure protection of forests and water channels and promote construction of high-rise buildings.

The meeting was told that master plans of Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and Abbottabad were ready while those of another five cities were in final stage.

Regarding Islamabad, it was told that bylaws were being formulated to cater the high-rise buildings to avert any problems for the residents after the construction. Moreover, a strategy has also been devised for protection of green areas in Zone-3.

The prime minister said that the public awareness was essential to discourage the haphazard growth of cities.

He also called for strategy for protection of environment, green belts as well as from emergency situation and natural calamities.

Particularly, the protection of Margalla Hills and other tourist points was among government priorities, he added.