LDA resolves long-standing issues during 2019

Issues resolved on the directives of Punjab CM Buzdar

LAHORE: On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) chairman resolved several longstanding issues during 2019, completed different development projects, introduced institutional reforms and updated relevant laws for meeting the present-day requirements.

The fate of the LDA City project had been shrouded with uncertainty for quite some time. To get rid of this situation, the authority arranged the land required for allocating plots to over 9,000 file holders in a short span of just nine months, after the Supreme Court of Pakistan had passed orders in this regard.

The development works were now in progress for Rs3 billion in phase-1 of LDA City, named as Jinnah Sector, spreading over 13,000 kanals of land. Plot numbers have been allocated to all the 9,712 file holders through computerised balloting with the help of the Punjab Information Technology Board on November 30.

The issue of handing over possession of plots to more than 2,000 allottees of LDA Avenue-1 had been lingering on for the past 16 years due to litigation and dispute over land with six private housing schemes in the areas. The governing body of LDA decided to settle the issue through negotiation with these schemes and offered 30% exemption in lieu of the land to be surrendered by them. Three out of six schemes had so far accepted this offer resulting in the availability of 623 plots for giving possession to the relevant allottees.

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Negotiations were underway with the other schemes as well for making available plots for the remaining allottees.

The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project was initiated in 2015. The LDA completed the civil work for the train’s operation during 2019 and made relevant arrangements for the trial run of the train by Punjab Mass Transit Authority.

Repair, rehabilitation and uplifting of 46 roads in the city were carried out with a cost of Rs600 million.

Project for improvement, beautification, traffic management and horticulture work at Thokar Niaz Baig junction is now in the final stages.

The work for construction of the entry gate of Lahore named as ‘Bab-e-Lahore’ at Multan Road near Thokar Niaz Baig has been started and the project will be completed at a cost of Rs250 million.

To save precious agricultural land for cultivation purposes and encouraging the construction of high-rises, the LDA approved the Building and Zoning Regulations 2019, in consultation with the private sector experts and other stakeholders.

As a result of the approval of these regulations, the maximum limit for the height of buildings had been increased and more dwelling units could now be constructed in multi-storey buildings. These regulations will help in boosting construction activities and related industries, creating new job opportunities and providing affordable residential facilities to the people.

On directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan for formulating a new commercialisation policy for the city, the LDA endorsed the draft of Land Use Rules 2019 and forwarded them to the Punjab cabinet for final approval.

The authority also started initial work for the preparation of a new master plan 2040. It approved ToRs for the appointment of consultant for this purpose.

The new master plan will be prepared for all the urban and rural areas in the Lahore division as per the ToRs.

For the first time in the history of LDA, the appointment of legal advisors was made purely on merit basis. The legal advisers were selected through open competition. Applications were invited from interested lawyers by publishing an advertisement in widely circulated national newspapers and a comprehensive selection procedure was followed for hiring services of competent legal advisors.

A legal management system was introduced in LDA for vigorously following lawsuits in courts. A detailed SOPs of the law directorates of LDA was issued, stipulating duties and responsibilities of officers working in law directorates as well as the legal advisors besides setting timelines for filing para-wise comments of legal cases.

The city builder and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) entered into an agreement whereby LDA was granted access to the NADRA database. The LDA could now authenticate the credentials of sellers and purchasers of plots through biometric verification. This step will help minimise the chances of fraud and impersonation in the transfer of properties.

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The LDA established public facilitation centres in districts of Kasur, Sheikupura and Nankana Sahib. It also set up a WhatsApp helpline for receiving public complaints.

The LDA launched a massive tree plantation campaign under the title “Let’s make Lahore Green” thousands of new saplings were planted in different housing schemes of LDA.

Under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme of the prime minister, the LDA supervised plantation campaign in approved private housing schemes as well. The private sector also joined hands with the LDA in its plantation drive as corporate social responsibility.

A local organisation collaborated with the LDA and started setting up MIYAWAKI forest on an area of 21,000 square feet in Liberty Market. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2019.