LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday launched a campaign against encroachments and land grabbing across the province. The drive in Lahore will begin from Tuesday (today).

Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Punjab chief minister and cabinet members on Sept 1 to immediately launch an anti-encroachment drive and take action against land grabbers across the province. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar met PM Khan again in Islamabad and briefed him about the anti-encroachment and anti-land grabbing drive.

Sources say the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has announced launching of the operation without considering that by-polls on multiple National and Punjab Assembly seats were scheduled to be held this month.

In a meeting of provincial ministers and administrative secretaries presided over by the chief minister, it was identified that some 31,687 kanal of land of the Board of Revenue, Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) 636 kanal and forest department’s 35 acres were encroached upon by land grabbers. Similarly, 32 buildings and some plots of the Metropolitan Corporation (MC) and Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) were also identified as being encroached upon.

Meanwhile, senior minister Aleem Khan asked the departments concerned to adopt a comprehensive strategy to remove encroachments in the province and establish a proper monitoring system in every division. A daily progress report should also be presented to the government, he added.

The minister said that telephone, gas and electricity connections of the illegal occupants should immediately be disconnected permanently. Some respite could be given to widows, orphans and the very poor people on the basis of humanity who will be given time to collect their belongings.

LAHORE: The city administration is all set to launch a month-long operation from today to retrieve 31,687 kanal of state land.

According to an action plan finalised by the administration, in the first week starting on Tuesday the teams comprising officials of the city administration, LDA and enforcement staff of the MC and zonal municipal administrations would conduct the operation around Sabzazar truck stand, commercial buildings (LDA and MC), Anarkali, Walton Road, Urdu Bazaar, Madina Market, Township, Circular Road, PIA Road (including Neelam Ghar), Ferozepur Road (Lytton Road to canal), Dharampura Bazaar and Allama Iqbal Road, Daroghawala Chowk (Basi Morr), Samsani graveyard shops and nursery, Walled City, Rang Mehal Chowk and Lohari Gate.

In the second week, the teams would retrieve occupied land in Makkah Colony, Gurumangat Road, Ichhra main bazaar, Johar Town, Baghbanpura, Haq Nawaz Bazaar, Shalimar Link Road, Akbari Mandi, Karim Block, Moon Market, Sikandar Block market, Jallo Morr, GT Road (both sides of Quaid-i-Azam Interchange), Sabzazar (D Block), Landa Bazaar, Loha Market and Montgomery Road.

In the third week, the operation would be launched on Beadon Road, Temple Road, Shalimar Market, Sabzazar (C, P, H-1 blocks), Shahdara (GT Road), Bajwa Hospital, Barkat Market, Model Town Link Road, Islampura, Rajgarh, MAO College Road (Atif Chowk and adjoining areas), from Yateem Khana to Thokar Niaz Baig, Suha Bazaar, Data Darbar, Ravi Road and Batti Chowk, Faisal Town, Kotha Pind, Moon Market and Liaquatabad, Queen’s Road, Abid Market, Mozang Adda, Liberty Market, Main Market Gulberg and Ek Moria Pul to Shadbagh (Gol Ground).

The fourth week will take the operation to Bhalla Chowk, Allah Hoo Chowk, Shaukat Khanum and Madr-i-Millat Road, Bilal Ganj and Karim Park market, Ferozepur Road, Qainchi to Gajjumatta, Katcha Jail Road, Kamahan Road, Begum Kot and Sheikhupura Road.

“The deputy inspector general (operations), deputy commissioner and other senior officers will be core members of the campaign, and another plan has been finalised to save the retrieved land from re-occupation,” Deputy Commissioner (DC) retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn on Monday.

Out of the two teams tasked with conducting the operation, one will comprise 40 officials of LDA and MC, and the second will have officials of the MC and WCLA. “Both teams will be provided with 30 trucks and other heavy machinery besides police security during the operation,” the DC added.

The LDA administration has also constituted a special task force for assisting its Enforcement Directorate to achieve the desired objectives of the crackdown.

“The task force comprises 40 officers and officials of various ranks. As per the standard operating procedure, the director concerned of a particular scheme will be present during the operation along with representatives of the land acquisition and law directorates,” a spokesman said in a press release.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2018