Let CDGL handle it

In an unexpected development, City District Government Lahore (CDGL) has taken over Fort Road Food Street seizing all powers from Society for Development and Management (SDM) of Fort Road Food Street headed by Habib Khan
Earlier, Society for Development and Management (SDM) of Fort Road Food Street which developed Ford Road Food Street had complete administrative and financial control over the Food Street. Per previous terms and conditions, Punjab government and CDGL had nothing to do with its management and operation. Meanwhile the government did not allocate a single penny as funds and grants for its development. However, CDGL officials remained in bad terms with the head of Food Street and later snatched all power from him.
On Wednesday, Lahore District Coordination Officer Noor-ul-Amin Mengal ordered to constitute a Food Street Management Committee for the food street behind Badshahi Mosque near Roshnai gate. He said this committee would comprise four registered members of the Food Street Society and an impartial member with the mandate to supervise and run the affairs of Food Street. He said the committee would enforce the rules and regulations under by laws made for Food Street.
He said an audit wing should be set up for making the financial affairs of the Food Street transparent. The DCO said the society members should help CDGL for making the food street a model food street. He said government desired that the businessmen should become self-reliant and should run the affairs of the street themselves.
He emphasised that quality control of edible items, trained staff, cleanliness, reasonable rates and discipline should be the key. He said every shopkeeper should set tables according to the area given to them so that no hurdle was created for the pedestrians.
The meeting was also attended by PSO to CM, assistant commissioner city, TMO DGBT, DO industry, DO environment, society member of Food Street and others.
However, Food Street head Habib Khan told Pakistan Today that no decision had been taken over the Food Street so far. “The government is yet to reach a decision on the issue,” he said.