Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq has said that the establishment of Punjab Spatial Planning Authority (PSPA) has paved the way for environment-friendly constructions. The authority will ensure the protection of green areas, forests and agricultural lands. Addressing a meeting regarding PSPA held at the Civil Secretariat, he said that the Authority’s Planning Support System (PSS) has been linked to the dashboard of each district. “After the master planning of the districts, PSPA now has excellent data base”, he praised. Special Secretary Asia Gul and Director General PSPA also attended the meeting.
Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that PSS will prove to be an important tool for ‘balanced growth’ and sustainable development. “PSPA is providing, he went on, “support to housing, industry, transport department. Similarly, advisory services are being provided to Environment, P&D and Economic Development too”, added he. Zeeshan Rafiq said that the e-construction portal is linked with the e-Biz of the Punjab government. “Now all the process of approval of housing society has become possible online”, he remarked. He said that the establishment of PSPA is an important achievement of the Maryam Nawaz government. “The authority will also review the regularization of schemes established without proper approval”, he assured. The Local Government Minister said that the creation of e-construction portal has made it possible to eliminate unnecessary departmental NOCs. “The application received on the e-construction portal will be processed within the stipulated time”, vowed Zeeshan.
The Local Government Minister warned that PSPA will face several challenges in the beginning, so self-accountability and transparency are very important while moving ahead. He said that it is necessary to stop the indiscriminate use of agricultural land and protect the green areas. “Citizens and developers should know which areas are ‘green’ and which ones fall in the category of ‘gray’”, he urged. He said that industrial zones will also be supported by the Special Planning Authority. Zeeshan Rafiq said that more people-friendly features will be added to the e-construction portal. “Investment in the real estate sector has to be fully secured. The greater the transparency, the greater the confidence of the people”, he observed. He said that the digitization system is the focus of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. “Various facilities are being provided to the citizens at home. The culture of pressing long queues and files is being eradicated”. The provincial minister directed that boards carrying master planning should be displayed at prominent places in every district and tehsil for the guidance of the citizens.
