City builder all set to go hi-tech

Will automate business processes including building map approvals

LAHORE: In order to achieve ease of doing business goals set by the World Bank, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to automate business processes, including building plan approvals and no-objection certificates.

The authority has also aimed to reduce paper-based property records into smart cards which can be used for sales and purchase of the properties in the LDA jurisdiction.

LDA Director General Sumair Ahmad Syed has highlighted that the authority has decided to launch a smart card, in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which will be issued to property owners of LDA schemes.

“Soon all property sale and purchase transactions will be done on smart cards,” he said.

In a meeting with Board of Investment (BOI) Executive Director Farena Mazhar here on Monday, LDA DG disclosed that the city developer has also prepared a mobile application for building plans approvals, which will be available to the general public through Google Play Store very soon.

In line with the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business programme, Syed said, various business processes are being simplified in the LDA and various tasks will be performed online for facilitating the people.

He pointed out that the procedure for approving building plan has been shortened from 19 stages to nine steps only which has dramatically reduced approval time.

The intending builders could now file applications for building plan approval through architects and the town planners registered with the LDA and the building plans could be got approved by LDA within 48 hours on the recommendation of these town planners.

He further said that special counters of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Traffic Engineering & Transport Planning Agency (TEPA), Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) and other relevant departments are being set up at the One Window Cell of the LDA for issuance of NOCs under one roof for giving sanction of building plans of high-rise buildings.

He further informed BOI executive director that inspection of buildings for issuance of completion certificates of buildings is being outsourced for eliminating complaints regarding misuse of power by the relevant staff.

Meanwhile, the authority has auctioned a total of 19 plots, including 11 commercial, seven residential and one reserved for education purposes, against a sum of Rs281.8 million.

Open auction of plots was held at LDA Community Centre, New Muslim Town, which was participated by 50 bidders who had deposited earnest money in the form of pay orders of requisite amount for this purpose.

Tough competition was observed on this occasion as competitors enthusiastically offered their bids. Per marla price of these plots had been estimated by the approved Evaluators of the Bankers Association of Pakistan, highlighted a spokesman of the authority.

Anti-encroachments drive

Officials of the LDA Town Planning Wing, on the direction of LDA DG, demolished one structure and sealed another two buildings on Monday. An illegal commercial construction near Purana Kahna, Ferozepur Road was demolished. Two properties near Langar Phattak and an illegal shed in Shah Jamal were sealed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2020.