Delayed evacuations: Encroachments demolished by WCLA

LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority and the Water and Power Development Authority demolished illegal encroachments on Masjid Wazir Khan Chowk late on Monday night after a 12-day notice period to the encroachers expired. The WCLA had earlier paid Rs62 million to remove 72 encroachments. Rs10,000 was paid per square foot as compensation, the encroachers were given Rs30,000 for relocation. Encroachments on less than 40 square feet got an additional Rs100,000. The encroachers were told to vacate the shops within a week of receiving the compensation but they did not. WCLA Enforcement Director Syed Safdar Abbas Shah then issued a notice giving the encroachers 12 additional days to vacate their shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2013.