CM sacks LDA’s One Window Cell staff

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reshuffled the entire team of Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) One Window Cell following complaints from citizens.

The chief minister visited the LDA One Window Cell in Johar Town on Tuesday and listened to complaints from citizens who were present.

Most of the complaints were about having to repeatedly visit the LDA office to get action on their legitimate applications, as well as bribery and the non-performance of LDA officials.

The chief minister expressed his displeasure at the poor performance of the One Window Cell staff and ordered the immediate removal of the entire team. He directed the authority to promptly appoint new staff and fix all issues related to the One Window Cell within 14 days.

He also instructed that strict action be taken against any complaints of bribery and that there be zero tolerance for corruption.

While hearing public complaints, the chief minister instructed LDA Additional Director General Housing to immediately address citizens’ complaints.

He said that decisions on public applications should be made in a timely manner in the best possible way.

Following the caretaker chief minister’s visit, Lahore Division Commissioner and LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa called an emergency meeting to discuss issues related to the One Window Cell.

The meeting ordered the immediate removal of the entire team and issued instructions for a change in management as per the chief minister’s orders.They appointed LDA Director Rafia Nazir as Director of the cell and instructed her to immediately take up her new assignment. They said that officials were being appointed to the One Window Cell based on their past performance.

The meeting also decided to extend the One Window Cell’s working hours until 5pm, instead of the previous closing time of 2pm.

The commissioner and LDA DG directed the One Window Cell team to remain in the office until all of their daily tasks were completed. The entire team will work till 8pm until all of the backlog is cleared.

The authority decided to monitor the performance of the staff on a daily basis. It was also decided that the Additional DG would listen to public complaints for two hours at the One Window Cell from Wednesday onwards.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2023.