LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has decided in principle to launch the “Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar” programme as a major initiative to improve the safety of residential buildings across the province in the wake of the Kahna tragedy. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed that financial assistance be provided to households with weak, dilapidated or unsafe roofs to help prevent similar incidents in the future. A special meeting chaired by the chief minister reviewed the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” and “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” programmes in detail. The meeting decided to expand the existing housing initiative by introducing two new financial assistance categories under the “Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar” programme. According to the proposals presented in the meeting, interest free loans of up to Rs 500,000 will be provided for the repair, rehabilitation and safety improvement of weak, dilapidated or unsafe homes. Citizens who want to construct an additional floor on their existing houses will be eligible for interest free loans of up to Rs1 million, repayable in easy instalments. The chief minister also ordered the release of the second tranche of the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme within three days and directed officials to make the loan process even easier so that more deserving families can benefit from the facility. The meeting was informed that 134,343 houses have so far been completed across Punjab under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme, while interest free loans have been approved for more than 180,000 families. According to the briefing, around 170,000 families have already received loans, and more than 27,500 houses are in the final stages of completion. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme and all related initiatives are flagship projects of the Punjab government, adding that negligence or delay will not be tolerated. She said the government would support citizens whose homes are unsafe or whose roofs are weak, stressing that good governance is reflected not in statements but in practical action. Progress on the “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” programme was also reviewed during the meeting. Officials informed participants that 2,000 homeless families in 23 districts have already been given free residential plots, and they will also be provided interest free loans for house construction.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched the computerized balloting process under the “Apna Khet Apna Rozgar” programme to allot state owned cultivable agricultural land to 30,000 landless and deserving families across the province. According to the Punjab government, the scheme will provide successful families with access to farmland, along with financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per acre and technical support for cultivation. Families allotted four acres will receive a total of Rs 200,000 to help prepare the land for farming. During the ceremony, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz spoke by phone with Abdul Sattar, a successful applicant from Faisalabad, and congratulated him on securing land through the programme. The chief minister said the “Apna Khet Apna Rozgar” programme was launched on April 22 and received around 60,000 applications. She said computerized balloting has now been completed for nearly 29,000 plots. Maryam Nawaz added that around 11,000 women also applied for the programme, while all applicants were given an opportunity to file appeals before the final draw. According to the Punjab government, allotment letters will be issued within a week, while possession of the land is expected to be handed over by July 31. Speaking at the ceremony in Lahore, the chief minister said the initiative aims to lease 121,000 acres of government-owned cultivable land to landless families for a 20 year term at a symbolic annual rent of Rs100 per acre. She said the programme is designed to improve livelihoods, increase agricultural productivity and strengthen the rural economy by giving landless families access to farmland. The government, she added, wants to provide deserving families with an opportunity for dignified employment and economic self reliance.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has accelerated progress on ongoing development projects in LDA City, with 65 percent of work on the Structure Plan Road completed. The authority has also decided to further speed up development activities during the current fiscal year to ensure the early completion of the project and provide modern facilities to residents. DG LDA Tahir Farooq made these remarks during his visit to LDA City, where he reviewed ongoing development work, infrastructure construction and progress on land acquisition. Chief Engineer LDA Israr Saeed, Director LDA City and other officials briefed him on the project’s progress. Officials informed the DG that work was under way simultaneously on all three barrels of the underpass being built along the Structure Plan Road. Girders are being launched on two barrels, while roof work is in progress on the third. The first asphalt layer has been completed on the ramp on one side of the underpass, while work continues on the other side. Tahir Farooq directed the relevant authorities to use all available resources to complete the underpass and Structure Plan Road within the stipulated timeframe. He also stressed that citizens constructing homes in different blocks of LDA City should be provided every possible facilitation to further boost construction activity. Officials said infrastructure development in LDA City was progressing rapidly and possession of more blocks would soon be handed over to allottees. They added that preparations were also under way to bring commercial plots to the market, a move expected to encourage investment and commercial activity in the project. The DG LDA also received a detailed briefing on the ongoing land acquisition process and instructed officials to complete all land-related matters transparently and without delay so that development work does not face any obstruction. He said the completion of the Structure Plan Road would significantly reduce travel time between Johar Town and LDA City, enabling citizens to reach the project within minutes. The road is also expected to improve traffic flow and enhance the residential and commercial value of LDA City. Additional DG Urban Planning, Chief Town Planner II, Director Engineering, Director Auction, Director Metropolitan Planning, Director Land Acquisition and other relevant officials were also present during the visit.