LDA encourages high-rise constructions

Foundation stone of Pakistan’s tallest building will be laid in Johar town

LAHORE: To encourage the construction of high-rise buildings, the Punjab government has decided to relax certain rules and regulations.

The decision comes after a meeting of the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) Governing Body on Saturday, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

The LDA DG briefed the meeting on the agenda. Punjab Housing Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, senior LDA officials and members of the governing body were present on the occasion. The chief minister ordered a committee, formed for this purpose, to give final shape to the rules and regulations.



The meeting concluded that the foundation stone of the tallest building of Pakistan would be laid in Johar Town. The building, to be constructed on a 44-kanal area, will have 45 floors, including three basements. The chief minister directed the city developer to take measures to ensure that firefighting equipment, staff training and safety arrangements meet international standards.

The chief minister expressed his anger over the incomplete patchwork on some of roads of Lahore. “The LDA should focus on the condition of roads”. He directed them to complete the repairs immediately. The meeting approved the accord of more powers to LDA Vice Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Imran so he may resolve administrative and other affairs.



The chief minister said the LDA vice chairman was being empowered so that the authority could discharge daily affairs itself and no longer need to visit the chief minister for petty affairs. He said the LDA, under the leadership of the vice chairman, should take decisions and measures within legal limits and provide relief and civic facilities to citizens. “Every possible step should be taken to provide relief to the people”, he said. “The LDA should produce results and my support is with the authroity.”

He further said the construction of multi-storey buildings in Lahore is a welcome measure. The meeting gave its approval to the construction of flyover to resolve the traffic problem at Shahqam Chowk. It also approved the extension of road from Defence Road to Labour Colony, Shahqam Chowk.

Both these projects will commence in the next financial year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2019.