Agricultural lands, forests should not be used for construction: PM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan this week directed to make preparations for biggest plantation drive during this year’s monsoon season and said that agricultural lands as well as those reserved for forests should not be used for construction in any way.
He gave this direction while presiding over a meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development here.

Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, Advisor to PM Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistants to PM Malik Amin Aslam, Dr. Waqar Masood, Dr. Shehbaz Gill, Governor State Bank Dr. Raza Baqir, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Lt. Gen. ® Anwar Ali Haider, Surveyor General of Pakistan Major General Shahid Pevaiz, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and senior officers were present in the meeting which was also attended through video-link by Provincial Chief Secretaries and Representative.
Chairman CDA told the meeting that online portal of CDA had been launched which would be further improved. Besides, one-window facilitation center was also being established at CDA to provide the facilities of land transfer, payment of fees and guidance to citizens.

Land revenue record of Islamabad’s rural areas was being computerized for which land record management information system had been developed. Registration of the record of 17 Mozas (villages) in the system had so far been completed.
The meeting was further told that with the receipt of Rs. 32 billion in terms of the sale of commercial land in New Blue Area so far, economic activities worth Rs. 100 billion have been estimated through construction in the commercial area.
Surveyor General of Pakistan briefed the meeting about cadastral mapping of the country. It was told that mapping of the official lands including 53 sectors of Islamabad, 35% of Punjab, 56% of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and 30% of Baluchistan had been completed.

The meeting was told that this process will help eliminate land grabbing, enhance tax collection and planning. The government of Sindh expressed its concern over delay in the provision of data of official lands. The Prime Minister directed to further speed up the process of mapping.
Governor State Bank told the meeting that with the receipt of loan applications worth Rs. 89 billion by the commercial banks so far under the low cost housing scheme, loans of Rs. 30 billion have been approved. Loan approvals under the low cost housing scheme had witnessed 30% increase per month.

It was further told that commercial banks were being made duty-bound for achieving targets and facilitating the customers. Besides, the application form for loan under the low cost housing scheme had been shortened to one page.
Chief Secretary Punjab told the meeting that in order to protect the forest lands and check their illegal use all the Deputy Commissioners have been issued special instructions. Any official found involved in illegal practice in that regard would be proceeded against strictly under the Pakistan Penal Code.

The meeting was further told that for the issuance of `Fard’ (land record) an agreement had been made with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Representative of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) appreciated the Prime Minister for the incentives announced for construction sector in the federal budget 2021-22 and also presented some more suggestions.
The Prime Minister said that construction sector was playing an important role in the country’s development and economic growth.

He urged all the relevant federal departments and provincial governments to immediately address the problems of investors.