سماجی زندگی کی اصلاح اسلامی تعلیمات کی روشنی میں

Allah Almighty sent prophets for guidance of human beings and revealed the books on them, who strove for transformation of the society. Islam  declared  that  master  and  salve, king  and  subjects, men  and women, all are  equal  and slaves  of   God. They are equal before the Law. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said ‘‘All human beings have equal rights’’. The Holy Prophet maintained religious equality. He  did not  talk  ill  of  other  religious  faiths, rather  he  protected  the  rights  and  prosperity  of  non-Muslims  who  lived  in  Islamic  society. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) preached goodness among humans like truth and compassion. He also restricted them from vice like lie, betray, greed, pride, bribery and domestic evils.  For being the last Ummah, the Holy Quran entrusted the Muslims with the mission of calling others to goodness and stopping them from the evil. This Paper attempts the role of Islamic teachings the transformation of the society.

Commercial Conversion of Land Uses and Sustainability of Urban Areas of Lahore Division Pakistan

Urban population has been increasing and it is expected to reach 70% of the total population in the world by 2050. It is also estimated that human footprint has affected 83% of global land services. Land use change has been the most visible indicator of human footprint and is dynamic in nature. The population of third world countries has been increasing rapidly. Pakistan being a developing country has also been facing such type of problems since independence. The Lahore Division being a hub of heterogeneous activities has been facing different types of problems including commercial conversion of land uses in unplanned manner. In developed countries, land conversion is taking place in planned manner but in Pakistan it is happening without planning in un-sustainability manner which requires research as it is neglected area of research. The study looks at commercial conversion of land uses and sustainability of urban areas of Lahore Division. This research focuses on the areas of Lahore Divisions. The questions of research include extent of conversion, causes of conversion, effects, actor and driving forces, utilization of funds, public participation, adequacy of standard allocation, adequacy of parking, impact on adjoining areas and existing rules. The research has adopted methodology based on primary data and secondary data for achievement of objectives of research. The research analysed existing polices, land uses extent of conversion, legal/illegal conversion, driving forces/actors and sustainability. It has been observed that commercial conversion of land uses has not been carried out in sustainable way. There has been continuous practice of converting residential land uses into commercial land uses. The authority is ignorant of commercial needs of cities and present commercial conversion policy is not capable to achieve the principles of sustainability. There is violation of rules in the form of encroachments in study area. There is absence of planning framework to monitor the implementation of the commercial conversion policy. There is spread of economic activities along notified roads of ‘A’ category in Lahore Division. The CBD areas of Lahore District, Kasur District, Nankana Sahib District and Sheikhupura District have failed to contain the ever increasing demand of commercial spaces. Traffic congestion and inadequate parking spaces compel the businessmen to move into residential areas. Economic theory supports the trend when economic activities are expanding in city; other areas close to CBD have to be absorbed to accommodate the trend. Many residential houses and bare plots are being converted into commercial use on these roads legally and illegally. The percentage extent of illegal commercial conversion of land uses on selected roads/segments of roads in study area is 60.4% and the overall percentage extent of commercial conversion is 83.4%. The study reveals that negative effects of commercial conversion of land uses are deterioration of environmental, social and economic condition, traffic congestion, shortage of parking, burden on infrastructure and security risks. The major causes of illegal conversion are huge economic benefits for violators, increase in commercial demand, lack of enforcement, easy approach, political involvement, strict rules and absence of proper planning process. The major driving forces behind commercial conversion of land uses are economic development, growth in population, business growth, Punjab land use Rules 2009, market forces, political pressure, revenue generation and increase in income, weak enforcement, planning agencies, Poor master planning and corrupt practices. The actors behind the commercial conversion are land owner, politicians, policy makers, development authorities, public and Government departments, and business Communities. The profit maximization arising from increasing demand of commercial spaces, physical aging of residential building structure leading to obsolesces are contributing factors that give rise to commercial conversion of land uses in Lahore Division. The main problems of study area include shortage of parking space, security risk, harassment of LDA staff, traffic congestion, difficult commercial conversion process, environmental pollution, poor building control, destruction of social life, lack of utilities and services, abuse of land and poor governance. It is suggested that comprehensive planning law with sustainable economic frame work is needed to resolve the problems. There is also an urgent need of spatial planning, proper zoning, sustainability study, monitoring and evaluation study, planning law at national level, value tax, sustainable commercial conversion policy, compact and mixed development, sustainable land use planning, development of planning system and enforcement mechanism which itself guarantee a sustainable commercial land use development. The actors and driving forces involved in commercial land use conversion must play within planning frame work to optimize wellbeing of society. There is need to strengthen system / institution for implementation of commercialization policy and master plan in larger interest of general public for sustainable development.