The Minister Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq emphasized the need to protect forests and agricultural land to combat climate change. He stated that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif wants to regulate the unplanned commercial use of agricultural land. He made these remarks while chairing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat. The meeting discussed proposals for establishing the Punjab Spatial Planning Authority (PSPA), which would regulate the commercial use of agricultural land. Project Management Unit (PMU) head Umm-e-Laila Naqvi briefed the participants on PSPA’s functions.
Minister Rafiq stated that the proposed PSPA will monitor land use in all districts using modern technology, and obtaining a PSPA No Objection Certificate (NOC) will be mandatory before approving development projects. He instructed officials to prepare a briefing for the Chief Minister’s approval and expressed concern over the shrinking availability of agricultural land near cities. He stressed that unregulated commercial land use leads to serious urban challenges.
The Punjab government is introducing the Planning Support System (PSS) to address these issues effectively. He also highlighted plans to develop health, education, IT, and economic zones alongside residential areas. While planned housing schemes are welcome, he emphasized discouraging unapproved developments without Master Plan approval. Ensuring quality residential facilities for citizens is a top priority for Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and the establishment of PSPA will support her vision.
