Lahore: The provincial government on Friday (April 9) issued the Punjab Commission for Regularization of Irregular Housing Schemes Ordinance 2021 – to regularize private housing schemes and launch action against irregular residential projects across the province, according to news sources.
As per the Punjab Commission for Regularization of Irregular Housing Schemes Ordinance 2021, a five-member commission will be established. The said commission will be given indemnity for actions performed and is beyond the jurisdiction of courts and will be empowered to make rules for its effective functioning.
As per the official notification signed by Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, the chairman of this commission will be a retired Supreme Court or a High Court judge, who will be chosen in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP). Other members of the said commission would include a town planner, director environment, civil engineer and a legal advisor – all of whom are required to have over 20 years of experience in their respective fields.
This commission aims to offer protection to the residents of housing schemes and prevent irregularities in housing societies. As per the notification, the housing schemes will be fined for violations like non-conforming land-use, below standards road width, missing graveyards etc. Other penalties include:
Housing schemes developed without approval will pay twice the value of the deficient land as per residential value in the applicable valuation table.
Housing schemes with missing graveyards, parks and open spaces will also be fined twice the value of the deficient land as per residential value in the applicable valuation table. Meanwhile, the housing scheme will also be liable to buy and allocate space for the cemetery within a radius up to 5 kilometres from the said scheme.
For lack of space allotted for the public buildings and failing to meet the road network standards, the penalty will be thrice the value of the deficient land as per residential value in the applicable valuation table.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
