Govt to enforce ban on road digging

NOC to be compulsory for excavation

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has decided to strictly enforce a ban on road and street excavation without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from relevant authorities, as part of efforts to streamline development work and prevent repeated damage to newly completed infrastructure.

The decision was made during a steering committee meeting of the Lahore Development Programme (LDP), chaired by Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique.

The CM's Special Assistant on Political Affairs Zeeshan Malik emphasised that no excavation would be permitted after construction is completed and warned of zero tolerance for sub-standard work. He said that the steering committee should be kept regularly updated on all developments. Divisional Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood assured the committee that all departments concerned are working in coordination to ensure the timely execution of the LDP projects.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza confirmed that following the completion of LDP schemes, no road or street would be disturbed without prior approval through an NOC. He noted that the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) are jointly implementing the programme in line with the guidance of the steering committee and the chief minister's directives.

The committee reviewed the progress of development projects across the provincial capital and directed officials to strictly adhere to timelines, with an emphasis on minimising public inconvenience and completing excavation work before the monsoon season.

Minister Zeeshan Rafique underscored the importance of ensuring alternative routes for citizens during construction activity. He urged the public to cooperate with the administration in maintaining newly developed infrastructure.

He also noted that with the recent expansion of WASA's jurisdiction in Lahore, the agency's operational capacity must be enhanced, and various proposals in this regard are under consideration at the government level.

He added that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is monitoring the progress by visiting project sites and her directives must be followed in all schemes.

Information Minister Azma Bukhari emphasised the need for long-term planning, particularly in the installation of street lights and sewerage infrastructure. She said that systems should be designed to meet the city's needs for the next 30 years. She also called for accelerating the pace of work immediately after the Eidul Azha holidays and reiterated that the LDP includes plans for the restoration of public parks and improvements to cemetery facilities.

Local Government Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi and WASA Managing Director Syed Ghufran Ahmed also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the district administration registered six FIRs, sealed 12 properties and demolished over 4,000 encroachments during an operation on Monday.

During the action, 36 truckloads of encroachment material were also seized. Unauthorised banners, posters and streamers were removed in large numbers to improve the urban landscape.

With additional input from APP