LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that the scope of Punjab Spatial Planning Authority (PSPA) is being expanded to all districts, and the central system of PSPA has been linked to the dashboard of each district. “Moreover, the e-Construction Portal has been linked to the Punjab government’s e-Biz, due to which the entire process of granting housing society permission has become possible online. The application will be received on the e-Construction Portal only after fulfilling the conditions,” he said while presiding over a meeting here on Thursday. Special Secretary Local Government Arshad Baig and Additional Secretary Quratul Ain were present in the meeting, while the Punjab Spatial Planning Authority (PSPA) Director General gave a briefing on the modern software Planning Support System (PSS). He further said the authority will complete all processes within 40 days for each application. “Unnecessary delays in the process of approval for commercial, residential or industrial constructions will be eliminated. The PSPA will implement the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for organised construction,” he added. He also said that the Spatial Planning Authority was formed to prevent the disorderly destruction of green areas. “The Punjab Local Government Department has completed the master planning process of all districts, and now every area is being monitored with the help of GPS,” he added. Rafique averred that instead of horizontal constructions, the culture of multi-storey buildings will be encouraged. “In the next phase, industrial zones will also be brought under the management of the Special Authority,” he added. He directed the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to add more features to the portal, saying that every step of the Maryam Nawaz government is aimed at providing better facilities to the public. He said that the e-construction portal has also been linked with the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), adding that the PSPA will ensure the prevention of illegal constructions in future. He stressed that regularising illegal schemes is the need of the hour. “We have to make citizens’ investments in the real estate sector 100 percent safe, and PSPA has been given clear goals in this regard.” Copyright Business Recorder, 2026