K-P establishes Land Use, Building Control Authority
In a bid to protect agricultural lands and prevent mushrooming of haphazard housing societies on farmlands, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has established Land Use and Building Control Authority.
K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the authorities concerned to take concrete steps so as to make the newly established land use watchdog fully functional on a war footing. He said that the purpose for which the authority was established be achieved at all costs.
He issued these directives while chairing a meeting on Thursday.
Provincial minister for Local Government Faisal Amin Gandapur, Secretary Finance Ikram Ullah, Secretary Law Masaud Ahmad and senior officials attended the meeting. The meeting approved the constitution of Provincial Land Use and Building Control Council under the Land Use and Building Control Authority Act.
The chief minister directed convening the first meeting of the council soon after Eid.
Provincial Land Use Council will be headed by chief minister while additional chief secretary, senior member board of revenue, administrative secretaries concerned and experts from private sector will be the council members.
The council is mandated to provide policy framework and is the highest forum of approval of land use, master plans, and spatial plans in the province. Besides, the council will oversee as well as monitor and implement the policies and strategies.
The chief minister also directed the authorities of local government department to devise policy for acquiring lands on lease for establishment of markets and bus-stands.
It may be worth mentioning here that unauthorized housing schemes are a major problem across the country, including K-P. The general public often invests in these schemes which later turn out to be unauthorized.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2022.