LDA record non-sifting delays files clearance

LAHORE: Applications of thousands of citizens are pending at the Citizen Facilitation Centre of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) due to non-sifting (computerisation) of the record.

Due to this issue, a large number of citizens were facing problem in getting their lands transferred, sale of their plots, purchase of land, getting NOCs, getting completion certificates and commercialisation of their properties and etc.

Data collected from a source posted at LDA’s Citizen Facilitation Centre, the total pending applications (some two days back) were 3,165 which included 2,788 non-sifted files and 377 sifted files.

Further breakdown of the data showed that the pending applications from different housing directorates included 404 from Housing-I out of which 368 were non-sifted, Housing-II total pending applications were 272 out of which non-sifted were 265, Housing-III total pending applications were 692 out of which non-sifted were 645. The total pending applications of Housing-IV were 198 out of which 157 were non-sifted, total pending applications of Housing-V were 450 out of which non-sifted files were 441, the total pending applications of Housing-VI were 378 out of which non-sifted were 363, total pending applications of Housing-VII were 642 out of which 541 were non-sifted and total pending files of Housing-VIII were 139 and there is no non-sifted file existed so far.

The process of sifting in LDA was started long time back during the tenure of Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the then LDA DG and now the Chief Secretary Punjab. At that time it was identified that around 180,000 files existed and will be computerised. During his tenure, around 30,000 files were computerised, then after him and till the tenure of present LDA DG around 25,000 more files were computerised.

The present LDA DG Tahir Farooq was doing his best to speed up the sifting process of the remaining files but sources in LDA claimed that there were some ‘insiders’ who didn’t want to complete this process as after sifting the ongoing corruption will stop.

LDA DG on Thursday visited the Citizen Facilitation Centre and reviewed the processing of sifted and non-sifted files. He listened to the problems of the citizens and expressed displeasure over the delay in processing non-sifted files.

LDA DG directed the officers to work overtime to clear the pendency and said that resolving the problems of the citizens in a timely manner is the top priority. He also reviewed the performance of the staff deployed at the Citizen Facilitation Centre.

Director (DG Headquarters) Asif Hussain and Chief IT Officer Abdul Basit briefed LDA DG that the LDA Citizen Facilitation Centre was being integrated with a new system Plus. Tahir Farooq conducted a detailed review of the integration system with Plus. He also visited the e-Khidmat Counter and reviewed the process of approving online maps. He directed the officers concerned to complete the construction work of the Central Control Room next week.

Meanwhile, on the instructions of LDA DG, a special campaign was underway to protect valuable LDA properties. LDA teams and district administration have carried out a grand operation in Gujjarpura Scheme and removed long-standing encroachments and slums.

The teams removed encroachments from 10 acres of LDA-owned land around the Ring Road and 20 kanal area of the commercial zone. The reclaimed land will be included in the LDA plot bank.

The operation was supervised by Director Housing One LDA Capt Ahmed Faraz and Assistant Commissioner Shalimar Anam Fatima. Police, district administration and LDA enforcement squad participated in the operation. LDA DG has directed to ensure the protection of LDA-owned property.