The Punjab government is going to prepare master plan to urbanise 154 local governments/cities that will control increasing migration of the people from small towns to big cities.
Earlier, the government decided to formulate master plans of 154 urban local governments/cities of Punjab as many claims came under the view that there has been an increase in migration of people from towns or villages to cities. However, some five major cities i.e., Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan have not been included in the list.
It has been learnt that aforementioned cities already have master plans for their land use and zoning for residential, commercial, agriculture and industrial activities.
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Umme Laila, the focal person for the Rs 500 million project, titled “Preparation of Master Plans for 149 Urban Local Governments/Cities of Punjab” said, “We have no plans for most of the cities (154 of the 159) as no one paid heed to the issue that finally caused horizontal growth there. Though the metropolises of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi have master plans already, the realtors launched several housing projects in residential approved/unapproved areas/localities without need. Resultantly, the land cost increased but the newly developed housing schemes/projects are yet to attract settlement of the people.”
The Rs 500 million project proposed and planned by the local government and community development department will be launched during the next fiscal year (2021-22) starting from 1st June under the annual development programme (ADP).
Cities of Punjab to be urbanized under the Master Plan
The cities, which will have master plans for the first time are Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Gujjar Khan, Murree, Kalar Syedan, Taxila, Attock, Hazro, Hasan Abdal, Fateh Jang, Pindi Gheb, Jand, Jhelum, Dina, Sohawa, Pind Dadan Khan, Chakwal, Talagang, Choa Saiden Shah, Kallar Kahar, Lawa in Rawalpindi division; Sargodha, Sillanwali, Sahiwal (Chita), Shahpur Saddar, Bhera, Kot Momin, Bhalwal, Bhakkar, Darya Khan, Kalor Kot, Mankera, Kushab, Quaidabad, Noorpur, Noshehra, Joharabad, Mianwali, Essakhel and Piplan in Sargodha division.
Chak Jhumra, Khurarianwala, Jaranwala, Tandlianwala, Samundri, Sadhar, Dijkot, Chiniot, Lalian, Bhawana, Chenab Nagar, Jhang, Shorkot, Ahmadpur Sial, Athara Hazari, Toba Tek Singh, Gojra, Kamalia and Pir Mahal in Faisalabad division; Kamoki, Wazirabad, Qila Deedar Singh, Ghakkar Mandi, Noshehra Virkan, Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Gujrat, Kharian, Sara-i-Alamgir, Jalalpur Jattan, Kunjah, Mangowal, Lalamusa, Dinga, Mandi Bahaduddin, Phalia, Malakwal, Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Pasroor, Narowal, Shakargarh and Zafarwal in Gujranwala division.
Furthermore, Kasur, Chunian, Pattoki, Kot Radha Kishan, Phoolnagar, Alahbad, Mustafabad, Nankana Sahib, Shah Kot, Sangla Hill, Sheikhupura, Muridke, Ferozwala, Farooqabad, Sharaqpur and Safdarabad in Lahore division; Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Pakpattan, Arifwala, Okara, Deepalpur, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Haveli Lakha and Renala Khurd in Sahiwal division.
Shujabad, Jalalpur Peerwala, Lodhran, Duniapur, Kahror Pacca, Khanewal, Kabirwala, Mian Channu, Jahanian, Burewala, Vehari and Mailsi in Multan division; DG Khan, Taunsa, Kot Chatha, Layyah, Chowk Azam, Karor Lal Eesan, Chobara, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Sanawan, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Jatoi, Alipur, Gujrat, Rajanpur, Rojhan, Jampur and Fazilpur in DG Khan division.
Also, Bahawlpur, Uch Sharif, Ahmadpur East, Yazman, Hasilpur, Khairpur Tamiawali, Bahawlnagar, Chishtian, Haroonabad, Fort Abbas, Minchanabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur and Liaqatpur in Bahawalpur division.
