Pakistan Property & Real Estate News

New procedure for property registration to be introduced

Lahore: A new procedure is being introduced for registration of property belonging to citizens of Lahore district.

The procedure would be similar to the preparation of computerised national identity cards (CNIC). An applicant would have to receive a token and submit his documents to a clerk while the fees for the registration of the property would be paid in a bank through challan forms. For attestation of the documents presented through the local commission, the fingerprints of the advocate concerned and computerised photographs of both the parties would also be received.

After the property documents are received, they would be scrutinised in two days and the applicant will be called again on a prescribed date. After that, the proper process of registration would start, which would take around 10 to 20 days. During the process, fingerprints and computerised photographs of the seller and buyer would also be taken.

In the beginning, Revenue Department officials would introduce this process in Cantt tehsil, where the three property registration branches of Shalimar, Aziz Bhatti and Wahga towns would be shifted to a new hall situated in the court of the deputy district officer (DDO) (Revenue) while the DDO’s court would be shifted to a new location. According to Revenue Department officials, CCTV cameras would be installed in the hall, so that corrupt officials can be caught red-handed.

In order to change the registration process of property, the government has allocated Rs 8.7 million. After Cantt tehsil, the property registration braches of Nishtar and Gulberg towns would be shifted to a new hall while the new system would also be introduced in the four property registration branches of Allama Iqbal, Ravi, Samanabad and Data Ganj Bakhsh towns.

Cantt DDO (R) Saleha Saeed, talking to Aaj Kal, said the new computerised registration system would be introduced in all of Lahore, which will provide relief to the common man. She said the applicant would have to appear himself in the office, where his computerised photographs and fingerprints would be taken. Saleha Saeed said she did not know that how much funds the government has allocated for the enforcement of this new system.

SC orders CDA to submit list of affected villagers

Islamabad: A three-member Supreme Court bench on Monday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to prepare a list of 240 genuine affects of Sarian and Bokra villages, who will be allotted plots by CDA in return of their acquired land, and submit a report before the court today (Tuesday).

The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday was hearing case regarding a mega scam of plots’ allotment by the CDA in Sectors I-11 and I-12.

CDA’s counsel Tariq Mehmood informed the court that land for Sector I-11 was acquired in 1969, and for I-12 in 1966-67. He said in compliance with the court orders, the CDA approached 240 affectees and offered them plots at an alternative place, however now they claimed that they were actually 1,143 instead of 240.

He said the affectees of Sarian and Bokra were creating difficulties for CDA in development of these sectors. The chief justice remarked that instead of giving land to genuine people, the CDA with the connivance of police allotted plots to fake people. Earlier, the court had sought a comprehensive report from CDA about the allotment of plots in Sectors I-11 and I-12.

The CJ had taken a suo motu notice of the matter on a news report alleging that the CDA had embezzled Rs 7 billion in allotment of plots in these sectors.

According to the news report, the CDA in connivance with the police had registered a fake case against the locals who were denied plots in the new award of compensation against their land acquired by CDA.

On the last hearing, the court had noted that the CDA procedure to compensate people did not appear transparent. The court had taken a serious notice when it came to know that CDA had allotted 1997 plots in Sector I-11 to its employees.

The CJ had questioned the CDA that under which law it had allotted 1997 plots to its employees. “You have usurped the right of people,” the CJ had observed. Sarfraz, a representative of the people from whom CDA had acquired the land, had contended that they were denied plots in the award announced on June 8 last year. “CDA threatened us that it would lodge cases against us with the help of police if we resisted evacuation of our properties,” he said.

The court was informed that instead of providing plots to the affected locals, CDA allotted 410 plots to ‘strangers’. Replying a question about the mechanism adopted for compensation to the affected people, the CDA had told the court that a ‘Package Deal’ was initiated for peaceful evacuation of the land. The court had observed that neither the land acquisition nor the CDA laws had mentioned such a ‘Package Deal’.

SC resumes hearing into CDA plot allotment scam today

Islamabad: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) will resume hearing today (Monday) into a mega scam of plots allotment by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in sectors I-11 and I-12 of the federal capital.

The bench comprises Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday. Besides others, the CDA chairman, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Punjab Additional Advocate General will appear before the apex court on notice.

Earlier, the court had sought from CDA a comprehensive report about allotment of plots in sectors I-11 and I-12. The CJ had taken a suo moto notice of the matter on a news report alleging that the CDA had embezzled Rs 7 billion in allotment of plots in these sectors. According to the news report, the CDA in connivance with the police had registered a fake case against the locals who were denied plots in the new award of compensation against their land acquired by CDA.

On last hearing, the court noted that the CDA procedure to compensate people did not appear transparent. The court had taken a serious notice when it came to know that CDA had allotted 1997 plots in Sector I-11 to its employees.

The CJ had questioned the CDA that under which law it had allotted 1997 plots to its employees. “You have usurped the right of people,” the CJ had observed. Sarfraz, a representative of the people from whom CDA had acquired the land, had contended that they were denied plots in the award announced on June 8 last year. “CDA threatened us that it would lodge cases against us with the help of police if we resisted evacuation of our properties,” he said.

The court was informed that instead of providing plots to the affected locals, CDA allotted 410 plots to ‘strangers’. Replying to a question about the mechanism adopted for compensation to the affected people, the CDA had told the court that a ‘Package Deal’ was initiated for peaceful evacuation of the land.

CDA to upgrade all markets

Islamabad: Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making all out efforts to upgrade all markets and beautify the federal capital, said CDA chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi on Thursday.

According to a press release, he was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a water filtration plant at F-10 Markaz. He said the recent rain spell had improved water level in the reservoirs. He said normal supply of water to all sectors would be restored by the end of April.

Sea View to be developed as beach park

The Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) has said that around a one kilometre area of the Sea View beach would be turned into a free-for-public beach park till August 14 this year.

Around 1.5 acre area of the Sea View beach adjacent to the Mc Donald’s restaurant has already been turned into a green patch, making it a prominent portion of an otherwise arid beach.

Under the beach park plan, around a one kilometre area of the beach between Mc Donald’s and the Village restaurant will be developed as a public park.

Like other parks of the Clifton Cantonment, the beach-going public would be given free access to the beach park. However, “Clifton Cantt will not allow commercial exploitation of the park land”, said CBC Garden Superintendent Hasan Anwar Siddiqui while briefing newsmen on Tuesday.

The CBC official said that no contractor or consultant was hired for the development of the cantonment beach park as the Clifton cantonment used its own labour and resources for the development of the park. “Only the seeds used for the grass in the park were imported from abroad”, he said, adding that coconut trees are also being planted for the development of the beach park.

Govt to launch low

CHIEF Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the government had decided to launch low-cost housing schemes in the province to provide shelter to the poor.

He said that in the first phase, five low-cost housing schemes would be started simultaneously in various districts of the province and later the scope of the project would be extended to the whole province.

He was addressing a meeting regarding low-cost housing schemes at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The CM said the Punjab government was taking steps under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif for the welfare of the masses and a number of projects were being implemented in this regard. He said low-cost housing scheme was such a step for the low-income people. He said the Punjab Land Development Company was being set up for the implementation of the project which would also be completed in a transparent manner. He said that in the first phase, the project would be started in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Jhelum. He said the land for low-cost housing schemes would be identified within three days and the procedure for allotment would also be devised.

Shahbaz directed the officials concerned to evolve an effective publicity plan for public awareness regarding the low-cost housing schemes while the houses constructed under the schemes should be of a high standard. He gave approval to the chairman and board of directors of the Punjab Land Development Company.

Earlier, the Chief Minister was given a briefing on the pace of progress of low-cost housing schemes project. The Planning and Development chairman, Housing and Information secretaries and other officers concerned were present.

‘Malir Town spent Rs1.83bn for uplift work’

The Malir Town Administration has said that during last four years of its term, it spent over Rs 1.83 billion on various development works in the area.

The acting town Nazim said the outgoing town administration had completed project for five million gallons additional water supply for the Malir town areas through the K-III project. Another project of 26 kilometre-long 36-inch diameter water trunk line is also nearing completion.

Development of underground reserve water storage tanks in Malir area having capacity of 0.5 gallons is also near completion. Other important projects completed in Malir town during last four years included conversion of storm water drainage into sewerage line from Malir 15 to Saudabad, development of double-track road from Malir 15 to Saudabad, building of morgue, beginning construction of passport office in Malir town office, development of Shahrah Liaquat Ali Khan Road, building of monuments on important road points, and installation of street lights in the town areas.

Development work starts in I-11, I-12

Islamabad: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started earthwork for development of sectors I-11, I-12 to provide accommodation facility to above 15,000 allottees coveting to have their shelter in federal capital.

MPO: “We have started ground work in sectors of I-11 and I-12. Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) has moved its machines to the site to complete the earthwork prior to hiring of contractor,” said a senior CDA official.

He said the authority could not develop any residential sector for last two decades after opening of Sector F-11, so it was inevitable to complete development work of these two sectors without any delay.

The housing shortage has swelled in the city to above 50,000 units and the people are forced to bear skyrocketing house rents despite having paid the amount for residential plots in different sectors, he said.

The official said the basic purpose of activating MPO was to utilise authority’s own resources as the directorate was almost abandoned due to some procedural flaws and it was the only way to start the stalled work of sectors development.

Evacuation: He said the evacuation of land had been started after signing a package deal with the villagers. He said repatriation of Afghan refugees living there had been started with the cooperation of UNHCR.

“CDA had signed a package deal with residents of Soran (Sector I-11) and Bokra (Sector I-12) villages in May last year, resolving the 40-year old dispute of compensation hindering the development work,” said the official.

He said the hiring of contractor was also in progress, adding that MPO was executing work on the rates defined by the National Highway Authority.

“As we cannot solely develop whole sector so it requires the engagement of a contractor,” said the official.

He said besides giving possession of residential plots to 2,500 allottees, more than 300 commercial plots would also be available for auction to generate revenue for the civic body.

Low-cost housing in few days

PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the government has decided in principle to launch a low-cost housing scheme for homeless people and the project will be formally initiated within a few days.

Speaking at a briefing to PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on public-welfare projects, the CM said state land will be distributed among landless farmers, agri and veterinary graduates in a transparent manner and land for this purpose had been identified in 21 districts of the province.

The CM said that all out resources are being used for speedy development of the province and provision of basic amenities to masses. He said special attention was being paid on the uplift of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors. He said early completion of development projects was being ensured for the benefit of the people. He said the Punjab government had taken revolutionary steps for development of education sector and equipping the young generation with modern knowledge. He said the government had laid the foundation of a revolution in education sector by setting up IT labs in more than 4,000 schools of the province.

The CM said besides water supply schemes, solid waste management, transport and distribution of state land among landless farmers and tenants and agri graduates, the government was also working on low-cost housing schemes for the poor. He said various models of low-cost housing schemes had been reviewed in detail and in the light of these models, the scheme will soon be initiated under public-private partnership.

He said the scheme will be started as a pilot project in some districts and later its scope will be extended to rest of the province. He said welfare of the people living below the poverty line was mission of the government and a number of welfare programmes were being implemented for this purpose in the province. He said besides low-cost housing schemes, construction of multi-storey buildings will also be considered. He said that a high level committee had been set up to finalize details regarding low-cost housing schemes which will submit its report within ten days after keeping in view all aspects of the project.

The CM said that houses will be distributed in the low-cost housing schemes through balloting in a transparent manner. He said besides landless farmers and tenants, the government had also decided to distribute state land among agri graduates which will also help promote modern technology in agriculture sector for increasing agri production. He said the project will be unique in the history of the country. He said agri graduates who had acquired higher education but lack resources will be given an opportunity through this scheme to earn their livelihood as well as play their role in the uplift of agriculture sector through their knowledge and expertise. He said that this scheme will soon be inaugurated from Southern Punjab and cultivatable land has been identified in various districts for this purpose. He said that local people will be given priority under this scheme and more land could be allotted to groups of agri graduates so that they could increase agri production through hard work and the use of modern technology.

The CM said unavailability of potable water had also become a serious problem and people were suffering from viral diseases due to contaminated water. He said the federal government had evolved a project for installation of water filtration plants in the country and this project had been implemented in other three provinces. He said the Punjab government had done its best to make this project foolproof. He said the federal government had awarded contract for the project while Punjab government has made third-party audit compulsory for the project.

Appreciating the welfare projects of Punjab government, Nawaz Sharif said that the decision of launching low-cost housing scheme for the benefit of homeless people was a commendable step. He said that in addition to low cost housing schemes, construction of multistorey buildings in katchi abadies should also be considered for allotment of flats to homeless people. He said homeless people living in Pakistan for the last 63 years had the right to have proprietary rights to their houses. He said that elected representatives should identify sites in katchi abadis and less developed areas so that a strategy could be evolved for construction of multistorey buildings. He said that instead of starting new schemes in major cities, new cities should be established and all basic facilities should be provided there. He said that forest land should only be used for increasing forest wealth. He said that a scheme should also be evolved for the lands of forests and wildlife department on the pattern of distribution of state land among landless farmers, tenants and agri graduates.

Participants in the meeting gave their proposals regarding welfare programmes of the Punjab government. Opposition Leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, MNA Mehtab Abbasi, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Ministers, Members Provincial Assembly and senior officers attended the meeting.

CDA’s cash shortage puts development projects in danger

Islamabad: Capital Development Authority (CDA) is currently so strapped for cash that it is having difficulties in executing some major development projects.

With no end to current financial crunch in sight, the distraught CDA intends to ask the federal government for funding for the purpose, it is learnt.

Sources in the CDA have informed Daily Times that said the projects suffering from shortage of funds include installation of computerised traffic signals, improvement of decades old water supply system, launch of Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS), construction of Islamabad Expressway from Koral to Rawat, and that of Kashmir Highway from Peshawar Morr to GT Road.

According to sources, the CDA made no specific allocations in the current fiscal budget for development projects and rather, allocated funds to wings. They said PC-1 of many projects had been prepared but delay in release of funds by the wings concerned was delaying work on them.

They said computerised traffic signals and security cameras in the city had been awaiting installation for over a year. They said under the plan approved by its board, the CDA was to install around 60 computerised traffic signals and 300 security cameras to monitor vehicular traffic and improve security in the city.

The sources said the CDA (Water Supply Wing) had prepared a PC-1 of Rs 10 billion for up-grades of the capital’s decades old waterlines and sewerage system and sent it to the Finance Wing for release of funds. However, the sought-after funding has yet be provided to the Water Supply Wing and thus, delaying the project.

They said the CDA would hire a firm of international standard to execute the project by using ‘no digging’ technology.

The sources said according to the PC-1, meter system would also be introduced in the city to control growing water losses. They said the project’s completion would ensure round-the-clock water supply to people.

As for the RMTS to be launched for Islamabad and Rawalpindi, sources said the CDA had yet to allocate funds for preparing feasibility study. And even the hiring of a consultant for the purpose has yet to be done. Under the plans, the service is meant to provide a decent, modern transport system to the twin city commuters. Currently, private transport vehicles totaling around 1,6000 are a major means of mobility within and between the two cities.

When contacted, Ramzan Sajid, a spokesman for the CDA, confirmed that financial constraints were hindering smooth execution of many projects. He said the CDA would soon request the government for provision of funds to ensure timely completion of schemes.

Govt to launch low-cost housing: CM

CHIEF Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government will launch the low-cost housing schemes in collaboration with the private sector to provide residential facilities to people.

He was chairing a meeting which discussed the low-cost housing schemes here on Wednesday.

Punjab Assembly members, including Maj (Retd) Abdul Rehman Rana, Imran Ashraf, Secretary Advisory Council Kh Haroon, Secretary Finance, Secretary Housing, Financial Advisor Ahsen Chughtai and representatives of developers were present on the occasion. Kh Bilal Ahmed gave a detailed briefing regarding model of schemes.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the government would provide land for the schemes while the private sector would undertake construction work. He said low-cost schemes would not only promote construction activities but would also generate job opportunities and added that under the schemes, low income people would be provided residential facilities and hundreds of thousands of shelterless people would benefit from them. He said like other development projects, low-cost housing schemes would be completed in a transparent manner.

The chief minister appreciated the model of low-cost housing schemes presented by Ahmed Bilal. The participants of the meeting also gave their proposals and suggestions.

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting to review the implementation of the Danish Schools Project, Shahbaz Sharif said corruption was the most serious problem of the country which had adversely affected the national development. He said that due to corruption the country had become dependent on others, adding that all the segments of society would have united against corruption and play an active role for rooting it from society. He said setting up of Danish Schools would result in provision of modern educational facilities to children of deprived segments of the society and enable them to join national mainstream.

Public service Punjab govt’s mission: Shahbaz Sharif has said that public service is a mission of the present government and all-out resources were being utilised for this purpose. He was talking to members of the Punjab Assembly from various districts at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Wednesday.

Mr Shahbaz said that government was determined to rooting out corruption and a strict accountability system had been adopted at the local bodies level. He asked the MPAs to ensure the timely completion of various development projects and transparent utilisation of funds in their areas, urging them to maintain a close liaison with people for solving their problems.

Those who met the chief minister included Sheikh Allauddin, Malik Ahmed Yar Hunjra, Muhammad Imran Qureshi, Malik Ahmed Kasoor Lagrial, Syed Haroon Ahmed Sultan, Mehar Sultan Sikander Bharwana and Malik Muhammad Javaid Iqbal Awan.

‘Land mafia eyeing heritage sites’

Karachi: Conservation architect and Heritage Foundation Chief Executive Yasmeen Lari has bemoaned the demolition of historical buildings on M.A Jinnah Road at the hands of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), and has appealed to the media for help in safeguarding the remaining historical buildings. She pointed out that the land mafia was adamant to demolish historical buildings and replace them with multistorey skyscrapers.

“On one hand, the tragic events of December 28 resulted in the loss of scores of innocent lives, ruined hundreds of businesses, and devastated thousands of livelihoods; on the other hand, a large number of historic buildings were gutted,” she said.

Lari sought media’s help in the speedy return to business of those affected by the fire, through the preservation of the city’s heritage. Her briefing was focused on the recent unfortunate and willful demolition of historic buildings in Boulton Market and the Denso Hall area, which had been affected by fire and arson on December 28, 2009.

Transparency International (TI)-Pakistan President, architect Shahab Ghani; Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) President, architect Samar Ali Khan; Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners representative planner Sadia Fazli; Pakistan Engineering Council representative Engr Najeeb Haroon; Institute of Architect Pakistan ( IA)-Karachi Chapter representative, architect Mujahid Sadiq; University of Karachi (KU) Department of Visual Studies Head Durriya Kazi; Heritage Foundation board member Shehnaz Ramzi; and Farhan Jamlvy of KaravanPakistan were among those present.

The media was requested to help propagate the cause of saving the heritage structures located on MR-50, 51, 52, 53 and 144, Market Quarter, on M.A Jinnah Road, which had been declared dangerous by the KBCA, mainly because of the collapsed sections in the rear part of buildings. However, at least 50 per cent of all structures and the facades bordering M.A Jinnah Road were intact after the disaster and could be fully restored.

Lari spoke of the demolition that has been going on since January 20, 2010, and said that the structure and facades are being demolished despite advice that remedial measures are available for a major part of these buildings. She reiterated that the restoration process was the quickest way to re-establish livelihoods to help people rebuild their lives on an immediate basis.

She said that through the Foundation’s Adopt-a-Historic-Building Programme, the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) was already providing support for the restoration of MR-144 (Hussaini Building).

On the request of the district coordination officer (DCO) Karachi, the Heritage Foundation has agreed to undertake the rehabilitation of four other buildings which have been declared dangerous. The work of removing rubble and debris from these buildings has to be taken up on a priority basis by the city government, to enable the Heritage Foundation to proceed with restoration work of the portions that have been dismantled.

TI-Pakistan Chairman Adil Gilani expressed support for the Heritage Foundation’s cause of saving Karachi’s heritage. He pointed out that a city which has suffered extraordinary violence has also suffered from the acts of the builders’ mafia, which, for commercial gain, is willing to destroy the environment of the city by building inappropriate high-rise buildings even in this area, instead of saving the footsteps of Karachi’s history.

He also reiterated that the role of civil society is to support causes which are beneficial to the general public. He emphasised that where corruption is rampant, such causes must be taken up by each and every one, particularly by the media, in an effort to raise awareness to achieve the goal of a just and equitable society. He also pointed out that if new buildings are built in place of historic buildings, they will have to follow the cutline of 30 feet from the present road edge, and many buildings in this area are already declared protected heritage. Therefore, along with losing valuable heritage, there will be little benefit to those who are bent upon destroying them. If anybody, it will be the small shopkeepers who will suffer the most and may not be able to gain their livelihood because of the greed of others, he said.

Architect Samar Ali Khan appealed to citizens to develop a greater sense of ownership of their city in order to resist attempts to deprive them of valuable heritage. Architect Shahab Ghani pointed out that plans were unfortunately under way to make Karachi a “replica” of Dubai. “Clearly, Karachi has its own identity and an urban character that has grown out of its distinctive historic architecture, which Dubai never had. Accordingly, its unique heritage must be retained and nurtured so that it can continue to endow Karachi with its special flavour. Any attempt at destruction of its heritage must be stopped,” he said.

Engr Najeeb Haroon explained that on the request of the city Nazim, a report on the buildings that had been declared dangerous was prepared by the Institution of Engineers.

The report clearly stated that the portions of buildings that were standing could be easily repaired and made habitable and safe. He offered that the institution was ready to provide honorary services in terms of technical input to save the historic buildings. Architect Mujahid Sadiq expressed complete support to the cause of Heritage Foundation and offered the services of the Institute for safeguarding Karachi’s heritage.

Durriya Kazi explained that groups of students of architecture from KU were already working with the Heritage Foundation in developing information about the buildings and will continue to provide whatever support that may be needed for this purpose. Shanaz Ramzi and Farhan Jamalvi thanked the media for supporting the Heritage Foundation and KaravanPakistan (earlier KaravanKarachi) for the past 10 years and for propagating the message of heritage preservation. They also spoke about the role of civil society as a watchdog in order to take up causes which may not be taken up by other institutions.

In conclusion a moving poem by Farhan Jamalvi and recited by Arif Bahalim of KaravanPakistan was presented on the theme of saving the heritage assets of the city. Farhan said that acts of terrorism also tarnishe the image of the city when urban historic environment and heritage is destroyed. “We have to join hands to save these footsteps of history,” he said.

Source: [The News]

PEC drops plan to set up IMAX Theatre in Lahore

LAHORE - Punjab Entertainment Company has changed its plans to set up IMAX Theatre in Lahore after facing stiff opposition. It is now going to launch the said project at Faisalabad, authorities concerned told The Nation on Monday.

The sources said that delays in the project had badly damaged the technical equipment worth $2 million which was purchased in 2006. Now the sources said the company had changed plans and was planning to set up IMAX Theatre at Faisalabad and was searching an appropriate place. The initial cost of the project was Rs 1.34 billion of which the government had already granted Rs 800 million.

As per details, through this mega project the government wanted to introduce country’s first IMAX Theatre as Part of Education and Entertainment Centre because it has attracted diverse audiences around the world.

IMAX Experience ® IMAX Corporation and the Government of Punjab Province, announced an agreement to install the first ever IMAX theatre in Pakistan two years back. The theatre which was planned to be located in Lahore, was envisaged as a multi-function shopping and entertainment park which was expected to open by September 2005.

The project consists of four sections including films and theatre, shopping alleys, restaurants, and amusement. Out of the five companies in the world, IMAX, the runner of Discovery and National Geography TV channels, was picked up for catering to the screening of 3-D, 70mm movies, which Indian film industry so far has produced only two to show against the tickets valuing Rs 3,000. It is pertinent to mention that only the IMAX machinery has to cost the government Rs 230 million to be paid in forex. He said the primary object of the IMAX project is to educate the people on modern lines. This seriously astonished the court.

A PEC official said that the project was the dream of CM who wanted to use this medium to educate the children who had the chance to pick and drop facility to be given by the government.

Now two years have passed the issue regarding place of IMAX is still ongoing. 40-kanal Doongi Ground, Gulberg had been earmarked to be used in the project.

The petitioner’s counsel challenging the IMAX Theatre, however, took the plea that the public park was there before the creation of Pakistan and could not be used for commercial purposes. He maintained that recreational facilities such as parks and grounds were getting redundant rapidly in the city due to commercialisation of lands and should be protected. It is pertinent to mention that Supreme Court of Pakistan had issued stay order about one year back.

Company took the plea that the project was good for the locals who could get their residences commercialised sell it at ten times higher prices. The petitioner moved another petition in the SC, which stopped the work again.

The company official added that the success that many of our customers are experiencing with IMAX DMR films is leading to increase interest from exhibitors around the world. We have not seen this level of inquiries in more than five years. However, he said people loved IMAX and we are really bullish about the region.”

“The sales activity is very strong”, he said. “We have lots of discussions going on right now with a variety of operators. When the popularity of an IMAX theatre grows in a market, there is often demand for additional IMAX theatres in surrounding markets,” he said.

Regarding Lahore project official assured that IMAX would be set up at major cities of Pakistan and this dream would come true very soon.

Action against bogus housing schemes

Lahore: After the crackdown on illegal plazas in the city, the Lahore Development Authority has decided to launch an operation against bogus private housing schemes in the provincial capital.

According to a press release issued on Monday, the LDA has cautioned the citizens against fraudulent private housing schemes, directing them to be careful in buying new plots without checking the legalities regarding the documentations of plots. It said the Punjab government, under private housing schemes ordinance 2005, had directed the Authority to check the record of private housing schemes except those in the Cantonment area.

With the help of the Punjab government, the Authority had decided to launch a drive against the illegal housing schemes and their owners involved in deceiving the poor public. The Authority has already informed the people about some of the illegal private housing schemes and is carrying out strict action against them, the press releases said.

Bhara Kahu housing colony construction starts

Islamabad: Ministry of Housing and Works has started levelling of the land in Bhara Kahu for the construction of housing colony while construction of roads is underway and will be completed soon, said Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) Director Finance Kashif Ahmed Noor on Wednesday.

Talking to this news agency he said all arrangements had been made to launch the first phase of Bhara Kahu housing project.

“Process to get No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is in progress and the ministry will get it soon,” he said. About 3000 kanals of land in Bhara Kahu has been purchased and 15,000 flats/plots would be allotted to the government employees, general public and journalists, he added.