City Master Plan 2050 in limbo

Unplanned urbanisation causes environmental, municipal issues

LAHORE:

The change of governments, intervention of influential elements, lack of coordination among provincial departments and planning contrary to ground realities have resulted in the Lahore Master Plan 2050 not being finalised even in nearly four years.

Worldwide, the master plans address transportation, pollution, health, education, agricultural land and the delineation of residential, commercial, and industrial areas, which has not been adequately covered in the case of Lahore, according to former officials.

The Master Plan 2020, which has been ineffective for the past three years and nine months, and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had begun preparations in 2018-19 to prepare the Master Plan 2050. A company from the Middle East had been engaged to develop the plan, for which Rs510 million was paid.

Lahore has faced urbanisation without planning for many years, leading to increasing problems of transport, pollution, municipal services, health, traffic and residential and commercial issues.

The city that spans an area of 1,770 square kilometres has an estimated population exceeding 12.5 million, which could reach 25 million by the year 2050.

Much of Lahore's agricultural land has been sacrificed for residential schemes.

Construction is under way in 872 areas across the provincial capital.

If the trend continues, Lahore's agricultural land would vanish by 2050.

Given the situation, the Master Plan 2050 is essential for better planning in the future to meet the needs of the populations in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib, an official said.

He said the planning must take into consideration the residential areas, commercial spaces, industries, pollution, transport, health, education, parks and municipal services, as well as checking the influx of people into Lahore.

The task of developing the new master plan had been assigned to a company that had collaborated with some Pakistani firms.

However, while the involvement of at least 26 provincial departments was mentioned in the documents related to the master plan, seriousness from them was not forthcoming in the planning.

Former chief engineer Khushkhal Khan stated that a better transport system was needed in the master plan to curb pollution caused by vehicles and to facilitate citizens in their commute for employment. Additionally, measures need to be taken to prevent urbanisation so that the burden on a single city is reduced. LDA Director General Muhammad Tahir Farooq told The Express Tribune that the WWF and Urban Unit would be engaged for the Master Plan 2050 in accordance with high court directives. He said the Punjab government would also be consulted in this regard.

He said the Master Plan 2050 should be designed while considering the current and future needs of citizens. Efforts are being made to preserve agricultural land, eliminate pollution and enhance the city's beauty by planning for residential, commercial, education, health, transport and municipal services in accordance with the population and future needs, he added.