Illegal commercial buildings growing in residential areas

LAHORE:In the absence of a proper and effective monitoring system, illegal commercial constructions have flooded the residential areas in the city. LDA’s Town Planning Wing was supposed to monitor illegal constructions and in case they spot any they should have been stopped and demolished the said structure.

Sources in LDA claimed that as a normal practice if any such construction, which was started with the alleged connivance of the staff concerned, was reported to the high ups, the said building was put in the list of ‘to be demolished buildings’, which gave ample time to the owner/builder/contractor of the said building to get stay orders against the LDA.

Recently, the Wapda Town (a cooperative society) has written a letter dated February 7, 2025 to the Director TP–IV LDA with the subject 'Commercial activity within residential area'.

The letter pointed out with great concern that the House No. 09, Block No. H-1, Phase-I, Wapda Town, Lahore was constructed for residential purpose after approval of a residential building plan by LDA in which it was clearly mentioned that the plan has been approved for residential purposes only and besides an undertaking on non-judicial stamp paper was also submitted by the owner regarding use of the building for residential purpose.

In its letter, the society intimated the LDA that the violation was being committed by the owner for using this building for commercial purpose, which was against the by-laws of Wapda Employees Cooperative Housing Society as its master plan was approved from LDA and also against the rights of neighbour residents.

'It was decided by Managing Committee of this office to discourage such activities that a fine of Rs100,000 per month should be charged to such owners who are violating the by-laws and started commercial activities in the residential areas and on account of non-payment of fine, the services provided to the building will be discontinued by the society.

It is also important to inform that the permission letter dated 29.11.2023 issued to owner by the society was cancelled on 13.11.2024 due to illegal construction work which was against the LOP and the by-laws of society,' the letter said.

The society also addressed the owner and directed him to discontinue the commercial use of the said building within a period of seven days under written intimation to this office, otherwise the management will be compelled to initiate legal action against him/her for such violation, and services will be discontinued immediately.

When contacted, LDA’s Director Town Planning concerned Ali Nusrat said the said building was put in the list of next operation, which is scheduled shortly. Over a question that if any action was taken against the Deputy Director and Assistant Director concerned for letting this illegal construction happened, he said the building plan was approved on pillar and now the contractor/builder/owner was violating the approved plan by removing partition walls; therefore, it was scheduled for operation.