Lahore: The Punjab government has introduced the Punjab Spatial Planning Authority Bill 2025, a landmark legislative move aimed at curbing the unchecked spread of private housing schemes and enforcing district-level master plans across the province.
According to The News, the bill was tabled in the Punjab Assembly on March 7 and proposes the creation of a central authority tasked with overseeing land-use planning and development regulation in all 41 districts of Punjab. The authority, led by the Chief Minister and comprising 18 members, would be responsible for approving spatial policies and guiding urban expansion with a more unified, province-wide approach.
The proposed legislation also calls for the establishment of District Spatial Planning Agencies, each headed by the Deputy Commissioner. These agencies would be responsible for recommending land-use plans at the local level and ensuring implementation in line with provincial guidelines.
The bill comes in response to growing concern over the rapid and largely unregulated conversion of agricultural land into housing developments. Government figures show that over 225,000 acres of farmland have already been consumed by private housing schemes, contributing to environmental degradation, air pollution, and the loss of cultivable land.
Proponents of the bill argue that the new authority will help restore order to urban growth, ensure consistency in planning, and prevent further misuse of land resources. However, the bill has sparked criticism from lawmakers and urban planning experts who warn that it may undermine local democracy.
Under the Punjab Local Government Act 2019, land-use planning is the domain of elected local bodies. However, since the expiration of the last local government tenure in December 2021, no elections have been held, leaving a governance vacuum. Critics argue that the new bill bypasses local government authority, shifting key planning decisions to bureaucrats and provincial leadership.
Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhry, a PML-N MPA, voiced his opposition, stating that the move contradicts the party’s manifesto commitment to strengthening local governments. “This top-down approach goes against the spirit of decentralisation and local empowerment,” he said.
Urban planners have also raised concerns about the lack of mandatory public consultation and environmental assessments before finalising district master plans. Without local input, experts warn that the proposed framework could lead to rigid, one-size-fits-all policies that ignore the unique needs of each district.
Despite criticism, the government maintains that urgent action is needed to counter the haphazard growth of housing societies and to preserve agricultural land. The bill is currently under review and is expected to be debated in the assembly in the coming weeks.
The Punjab Spatial Planning Authority Bill 2025 could mark a significant shift in how urban development is governed in the province—either by streamlining land-use policy or by centralising planning authority at the expense of local representation.
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