Billboards being removed: no compromise on citys beauty.

LAHORE, July 30, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- The present government is committed to maintain beauty of the metropolitan city that is why all billboards are being removed. Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Deputy Director Marketing, Mudassar Ejaz told reporter here Thursday that PML-N government had approved and regulated a new PHA Policy in September 2008, which focuses on natural and scenic beauty of the city. Though PHA is deprived of Rs 400 million annual revenue, the people will not be compelled to must see the advertisements, he endorsed the Chief Ministers resolve in this regard. To a question, he said, the previous government was interested in revenue generation and the PHA allowed installation of billboards in different parts of the city under a liberal policy. Of course, we have given time period to all the advertisers to remove their belongings from alongside the roads and all public and private buildings, he said. However, some of them approached the Supreme Court, which also gave a verdict contrary to their narrations, he added. The Deputy Director said, the Authority had so far got removed 725 billboards, while remaining 175 would soon be removed from various locations. To a query, Mudassar Ejaz said, the new policy also incorporated a method for advertisements under a controlled mechanism. Under the new PHA Policy, the advertisement boards will be re-installed but in specific locations and with prescribed sizes, he asserted.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)