Govt to devise master plans of 154 cities in Punjab

Lahore: The Punjab government has decided to urbanize 154 small cities of Punjab by preparing their master plans, in a bid to curb the rising migration towards major provincial metropolises, news sources reported.

Reportedly, the project ‘Preparation of Master Plans for 149 Urban Local Governments/Cities of Punjab’ – planned by the local government and community development department – will cost PKR 500 million. The development funds for the project are expected to be allocated in the fiscal year (FY 2021-22).

The five major cities; Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Gujranwala, are excluded from the master plan as the these cities already have master plans for zoning and land-use for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural activities. The master plans are announced to promote vertical growth of underdeveloped cities in the province.

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Umme Laila, the focal person for the project said that government plans to launch these development projects under Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the next fiscal year (2021-22).

The cities which will have the master plans for the first time are as follows:

The decision of the master plans for 157 cities was taken in a recent meeting of the Project Management Unit (PMU) presided over by the local government department secretary. During the meeting, the participants decided to submit the concept note and PC-1 of the projects to the planning and development (P&D) department for funds allocation and inclusion in ADP schemes.

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Moreover, the plan for the urbanization of cities will be prepared through the consultancy of the town planning companies by the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP). The PMU will confirm the follow-up, monitoring and implementation of plans in three years.