The meeting sought details from the chairman EPTB about illegally occupied land and properties of the Trust and showed concern that the provincial government of Punjab has been interfering in the ETPB affairs in Faisalabad. While giving details of commercial activities of the EPTB, the meeting was told that the board had decided to construct a commercial plaza in Faisalabad from its own resources which has been delayed due to objections raised by the provincial government. The former chairman had decided to change the construction site of the plaza and consequently the cost of the project increased. The matter is pending with Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The committee was further informed that in 2009 after approval, the federal government had given 844-kanal of ETPB land to DHA Lahore for construction of Phase V, VI and VII in return of 25 per cent plots. The Supreme Court has declared the deal as illegal and directed DHA to give 33 per cent plots to EPTB instead of 25 per cent. The land was transferred to the DHA in 2009, however, DHA has not given any plot to the Board and the case is in the Supreme Court.
Other development activities of the EPTB were construction of 13 commercial plazas in DHA Lahore from its own resources and 8 residential houses. However, these houses were given on lease without completion at very low price and there are Rs 20 million overdue on account of rent.
The chairman ETPB maintained that measures were initiated to recover illegally occupied properties; however, litigation and stay orders remained major hindrances to get the properties evacuated. The meeting was further informed that measures are being put in place to ensure security to religious places of the minorities and maximum facilities are being provided to Sikh visitors. Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said that there are issues in land department as the meeting wanted the properties of EPTB to be detected by the land department.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017