LAHORE: A special operation to ensure cleanliness at 245 city churches and major roads on the eve of Christmas was launched on Tuesday.

The operation involved dozens of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) teams led by supervisors, covering 45 major and 200 smaller churches across Lahore.

According to the LWMC, the teams carried out mechanical sweeping in and around the churches and cleaned major city roads, including Jail Road, The Mall (upper and lower), Davies Road, Sundar Das Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Garhi Shahu, Station, Multan Road, Chauburji, Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, Main Boulevard (Gulberg and Johar Town), Wahdat Road and Maulana Shaukat Ali Road.

The LWMC said that citywide cleaning operation has been launched to ensure a spotless environment on Christmas on Wednesday.

Workers have also been assigned to clean areas such as Makkah Colony, Elahi Bakhsh Road, and the Model Bazaar China Scheme. Cleanliness efforts at major churches, including Don Bosco, the Cathedral Church, and St. Anthony Church, have already been completed.

The management expressed appreciation for the large number of Christian workers serving at LWMC, calling them the company’s ‘heroes’. Residents can report cleanliness-related complaints by contacting the LWMC helpline at 1139 or through social media platforms, he said.

MEETING: A meeting presided over by the Board of Revenue’s senior member was informed by officers that 14 IT-related projects are being rapidly implemented to align the board with modern requirements.

These initiatives include AIT, e-Library, e-FOS, IT-based Land Management System, PLUS, digitization of the S&R Wing, Land Acquisition and Management, and Litigation and Information Management Systems.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Nabeel Javed said reforms are underway to prevent illegalities in the real estate sector. To enhance transparency in land transfer and mutation processes, a state-of-the-art Electronic Registration and Stamp System is being introduced. Under this system, pre-written stamp papers will be issued exclusively through the Bank of Punjab. Previously, blank stamp papers were issued, allowing room for forgery and malpractice.

The new pre-written stamp papers will eliminate such loopholes, eradicating opportunities for corruption. Additionally, modern e-stamp papers will be district-specific and cannot be used outside the issuing district. For inter-district transactions, applicants will require a license, and all government payments will be processed through e-payment methods.

The SMBR emphasised that protecting public property rights and establishing a fraud-free system are top priorities for the Board of Revenue and the Punjab government.

LDA: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) administration on Tuesday sought the preparation of a plan to develop a commercial zone on 300 kanal land retrieved from illegal occupants in the Sabzazar housing scheme.

Meanwhile, various LDA teams on Tuesday sealed over 80 properties for non-payment of penalties imposed on them for illegal commercialisation.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2024