Punjab to establish special planning authority to curb illegal housing

The Punjab government has decided to establish a Special Planning Authority to regulate urban and rural land use, aiming to curb the rise of illegal housing societies across the province.

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz chaired a high-level meeting where proposals were reviewed to introduce uniform zoning and land-use regulations for commercial and residential areas.

The plan also focuses on making housing schemes environmentally friendly and pedestrian-friendly, aligning with modern urban standards.

The Punjab Special Planning Authority (PSPA) will oversee the zoning of commercial, residential, and agricultural land, while also developing district land-use plans.

These plans will be reviewed every four years to ensure sustainable urban growth.

To strengthen enforcement, each district will have a special land-use committee, headed by the deputy commissioner, with representation from key service providers, including WAPDA, Sui Gas, and WASA.

The government also plans to introduce a digital monitoring system to track and prevent land-use violations in real-time.

During the meeting, the CM ordered an immediate resolution of pending housing sector applications and called for daily progress reports on Lahore’s development plan.

Officials briefed her that e-tendering had resulted in significant cost savings, with 414 development schemes already in progress under Phase One of the Lahore Development Plan.

CM Maryam Nawaz emphasised that proper town planning was crucial for a sustainable future and warned that unregulated growth was leading to chaotic urban expansion.

She directed authorities to fast-track approvals through a digital system, ensuring efficiency and transparency in land-use management.