Lahore to be bifurcated into City, Saddar districts.

LAHORE -- Keeping in view the increasing population as well as various urban issues, the government has finally decided to bifurcate Lahore City district into City and Saddar districts. The new arrangement is likely to result in the creation of five new tehsils - Ferozewala, Thokar Niaz Baig, Kahna, Kot Abdul Malik and Harbanspura - in the proposed districts.

According to an official document, the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) has been asked to expedite the preparation of a PC-2 for carrying out impact assessment study for geographic and social/cultural cohesion by hiring consultancy services under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Rules with a direction to retain the historic charter of the city during the division.

The two proposed districts, according to the official document available with Dawn, are likely to consist of five tehsils (sub-divisions) each having various qanungois/revenue circles (law expounders). The City district will likely consist of City, Thokar Niaz Baig, Model Town, Kahna and Raiwind tehsils, while the Saddar district will consist of Ferozewala, Kot Abdul Malik, Shalimar, Cantt and Harbanspura tehsils.

The City tehsil will comprise qanungois of Lahore Khaas, Shahdara, Naulakha, Sanda and some others mentioned in the master plan, including the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) and revenue estates of Sharaqpur tehsil. Thokar Niaz Baig tehsil would consist of Thokar Niaz Baig, Chuhng and Maraka qanungois; Model Town consist of Ichhra and Nawan Kot qanungois; Kahna will consist of Kahna, Kamahan and Pandoki qanungois; while Raiwind tehsil will include Raiwind, Paji, Manga and five mauzas from Kasur district.

Move to result in creation of five new tehsils within proposed districts

The qanungois proposed to be added to Ferozewala tehsil will be areas from GT Road to the east side, including Kala Khatai road till Shalimar tehsil along with four Ruda revenue estates of Muridke tehsil; and Kot Abdul Malik tehsil will have areas from GT Road to the west side, including Lahore-Sheikhupura road and Lahore-Jaranwala road up to Sharaqpur tehsil.

The Shalimar tehsil will include Baghbanpura, Lakhudair and Benaseen; Cantt comprise Cantt, Heer and Jahman; while Harbanspura tehsil will consist of Jallo, Fatehgarh, Barki and Bhangali qanungois.

According to the minutes of a meeting held on Dec 3 under the chairmanship of Board of Revenue Senior Member Babar Hayat Tarar: 'The participants were apprised that the...