Caretakers delve into govt housing

Stepping beyond its constitutional mandate, the caretaker provincial set-up has approved the construction of a new residential colony for senior officials of the Punjab government.

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the provincial bureaucracy to promptly initiate development work on the new Government Officers' Residence (GOR) scheme.

The decision was made during the 19th meeting of the caretaker provincial cabinet on Monday.

Political and legal experts believe the plan is beyond the mandate of the caretaker administration but its office-bearers are of the view that the project will provide housing facility to homeless officers of the provincial government. It was highlighted in the meeting that the project will play a significant role in enhancing the living standards of Punjab government officers and contribute to their overall well-being.

With the caretaker government's term being relatively short, addressing the meeting participants, Naqvi emphasised the urgency for prompt action by the provincial bureaucracy to ensure the timely completion of the project.

However, speaking to The Express Tribune, legal and constitutional expert Muhammad Azhar Siddique highlighted that as per the Constitution, the caretaker administration has a limited mandate of running day to day affairs of the government till the new elected government assumes charge. He said approving new housing schemes or initiating new development projects are beyond the mandate of the caretaker government.

Lahore already has six GORs for provincial government officers, besides residential colonies and flats for lower rank officials.

The caretaker cabinet also approved the inclusion of the Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop-3 (SL-3) and the Niazi Chowk to Babu Sabu elevated road projects in the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2023.