Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has ordered action against land grabbers and encroachers.Following a high-level meeting held on Wednesday, the chief minister said that a decision has been taken to initiate indiscriminate operation against encroachments and the land mafia. These orders were issued in light of a Punjab cabinet meeting which was held under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan last week.In Wednesday’s meeting, it was decided to form a special taskforce to resolve the complaints of individual occupation of plots or land. This taskforce would help provide necessary relief to citizens whose plots have been encroached upon and an organised mechanism would be established to return the occupation to genuine owners.Buzdar said the operation would start with influential members of the mafia. Indiscriminate action will be initiated against land grabbers. He directed that immediate steps should be taken for the auction of the lease of 22 petrol pumps of Lahore Development Authority (LDA). He said the procedure should be initiated according to the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and completed by fulfilling all legal requirements.He further ordered that Lahore police staff, deputed at LDA, should be changed and replaced by fresh personnel.Provincial Housing Minister Mian Mehmood-ur-Resheed said that LDA will be turned into an effective organisation to provide the best facilities to citizens. He asserted a zero-tolerance policy will be adopted against all kinds of mafia.The LDA Director General gave a briefing about the proposed plan for the elimination of encroachments and the land mafia.Secretary housing, Lahore Division commissioner, capital city police officer (CCPO), DIG (Operations) and the public relations director general attended the meeting.Meanwhile, in a message, Buzdar said the whole nation was celebrating Defence and Martyrs Day with complete passion in the new Pakistan. He said the nation pays rich tribute to its martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the protection of their beloved motherland.Published in The Express Tribune, September 6, 2018.