Minister takes notice after tree cut down for construction of passenger lounges

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Local Government Abdul Aleem Khan has taken notice of the news about cutting of trees at the sites of construction of passenger lounges and sought report in this regard.

“The policy of the government is to plant the trees and not cut them,” he said in a statement.

Abdul Aleem Khan expressed concern on it and ordered that in replacement of one there should be 10 trees planted. He also directed for stern action against those involved in this practice.

Meanwhile, on the directions of the senior minister, Local Government Department has called for details from the Deputy Commissioners about the details of anti-encroachment campaign launched in their respective districts and the results achieved so far.

According to the details a letter has been written to the DCs of 24 districts in which reservation has been expressed that what strategy has been evolved to demolish illegal commercial buildings there and immediate report may be submitted on the targets achieved in this regard.

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It is mentionable that the reports sent by 12 districts Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Attock, Faisalabad, Chiniot and Muzaffargarh have been declared satisfactory while the remaining 24 deputy commissioners have been served with this letter stating that as per the policy of the Clean & Green Punjab necessary steps were supposed to be taken and after removing encroachments the work of beautification was to be started respectively.

In this letter directions of Abdul Aleem Khan has also been conveyed that no katchi abadi should be disturbed and only illegal commercial compounds should be removed.

He said that this anti-encroachment drive was against the powerful mafia and no petrol pump, marriage hall or commercial activity would be tolerated on any public place and such policy should be implemented in letter and spirit in all the 36 districts of Punjab for which this letter had been sent.