'Ambiguous' order hits housing projects.

ISLAMABAD -- With major urban centres in the country experiencing a housing crisis, several residential projects and housing societies remain in limbo due to an order passed by the Punjab government that has effectively tied the hands of officials responsible for giving such projects the go-ahead.

Issued by the Service and General Administration Department (S and GAD) Punjab, the order effectively bars all development authorities from regularising housing schemes, even within their defined jurisdictions, in order to protect so-called 'green areas'.

'The officer/officials who fail to protect agriculture area/green area in their jurisdiction shall be deemed to have abetted the offence and proceedings shall be initiated against them as provided in law/rules,' reads the order, issued earlier this month.

However, the order does not define what constitutes a 'green area', and officials who are not prepared to risk their jobs have all but stopped the process of granting approval to new housing projects.

Punjab government's spokesperson Atta Tarar told...