Digitization of land record vital for assessment of people’s residential needs, effective planning: PM

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said the digitization of land record was vital for assessment of people’s residential requirements and effective planning for the provision of shelter to them.

He was presiding over a weekly meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development.

Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Anwar Ali Haider apprised the meeting of the provinces’ performance regarding the provision of data to the Surveyor General of Pakistan with respect to digitization of the land record.

Provincial chief secretaries briefed the meeting in detail about the measures for the provision of data regarding digitization of the land record by the respective provinces.

The prime minister stressed the importance of provision of data, saying the digitization of land record would bring about a significant improvement in the construction sector through better planning and elimination of land mafia.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman, while presenting a comparative review of the tax incentives package, FBR portal and increase in registration of builders and developers, told the meeting that construction activities across the country, especially in Punjab, had significantly increased.

The Punjab Chief Secretary briefed the meeting in detail about the measures taken for the protection of green areas in the province along with a future action plan. He said the province had to face decrease in green areas and increase in environmental pollution due to disorderly spread of the construction projects, especially housing schemes in the past.

However, he said since 2019 the provincial government had started implementation of a comprehensive action plan, formulated through effective coordination among relevant departments and participation of civil society, for increasing green areas.