Walled City: Residents resent illegal commercialisation
Participants of the meeting visited various areas in the Walled City and picked a site to start work at
Participants of the meeting visited various areas in the Walled City and picked a site to start work at. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ
LAHORE:
Residents of the Walled City once again raised concerns over violation of commercialisation laws in the area in a meeting with representatives of the Lahore Conservation Society (LCS) and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) on Wednesday.
The meeting decided that residences in the Walled City would be renovated under a collaboration between the LCS and the WCLA.
Talking to The Tribune, LCS president Kamil Khan Mumtaz said the project was intended to be inclusive. “It will include representatives of the civil society, the WCLA and the students. People want to participate in the process that will transform their neighbourhood. Once we have finalised a plan of action in this regard, we will decide who can play an effective role in areas where their expertise is required,” he said.
Participants of the meeting visited various areas in the Walled City and picked a site to start work at. They decided to start the project from Koocha Chaudhary Muhammad Siddique. Some parts of the street were renovated by the WCLA during their renovation of the Shahi Guzargah (the Royal Trail). The street was chosen because the area seemed manageable and residents were in support of the plan.
Talking to The Tribune, Imrana Tiwana of the LCS said, “The project is being implemented in a participatory manner. Residents, the civil society and the authority are working together,” she said.
She said residents had raised concerns about violation of commercialisation laws in the area. Tiwana said it was imperative that these laws be enforced. She said it was important to mobilise community-based organisations for the purpose.
The residents also raised the issue of traffic congestion in the area, saying that it should be made more accessible.
Talking to The Tribune, Nosheen Zaidi, of the WCLA’s social mobilisation committee, said the authority was identifying residential and commercial properties.
“We have talked to the developers operating here and they have agreed to respect the demarcations set by us,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2016.
Residents of the Walled City once again raised concerns over violation of commercialisation laws in the area in a meeting with representatives of the Lahore Conservation Society (LCS) and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) on Wednesday.
The meeting decided that residences in the Walled City would be renovated under a collaboration between the LCS and the WCLA.
Talking to The Tribune, LCS president Kamil Khan Mumtaz said the project was intended to be inclusive. “It will include representatives of the civil society, the WCLA and the students. People want to participate in the process that will transform their neighbourhood. Once we have finalised a plan of action in this regard, we will decide who can play an effective role in areas where their expertise is required,” he said.
Participants of the meeting visited various areas in the Walled City and picked a site to start work at. They decided to start the project from Koocha Chaudhary Muhammad Siddique. Some parts of the street were renovated by the WCLA during their renovation of the Shahi Guzargah (the Royal Trail). The street was chosen because the area seemed manageable and residents were in support of the plan.
Talking to The Tribune, Imrana Tiwana of the LCS said, “The project is being implemented in a participatory manner. Residents, the civil society and the authority are working together,” she said.
She said residents had raised concerns about violation of commercialisation laws in the area. Tiwana said it was imperative that these laws be enforced. She said it was important to mobilise community-based organisations for the purpose.
The residents also raised the issue of traffic congestion in the area, saying that it should be made more accessible.
Talking to The Tribune, Nosheen Zaidi, of the WCLA’s social mobilisation committee, said the authority was identifying residential and commercial properties.
“We have talked to the developers operating here and they have agreed to respect the demarcations set by us,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2016.