LDA to discontinue directorate dealing with illegal housing schemes

LAHORE:With a pending action on more than 150 illegal private housing societies, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is considering discontinuation of its specialised directorate responsible for taking action against the illegal private societies.

DEM (PHS) is an important directorate of LDA’s Metropolitan Wing and its main job is to monitor and take action against all illegal societies including stoppage of their sale and purchase and illegal development. This wing was established to redress the public complaints and also to save the citizens from being robbed by illegal societies.

“There are widespread complaints of corruption, improper coordination and other departmental issues within the DEM (PHS) directorate,” DG LA Tahir Farooq said confirming that the authority was considering to dysfunction this directorate. He said the authority was considering various proposals but this was final that the directorate will be dysfunctional and no more to exist.

A senior LDA official said for the last many months the DEM (PHS) directorate was ordered to stop taking any action against illegal societies, which are over 150 and spread on thousands of acres.

He said DEM (PHS) was under the Metropolitan Wing of the authority and it came into action against illegal societies on the request of Director of MP wing as well as on the direct complaints of citizens.

Sources in LDA claimed that in December 2024, all directorates of MP Wing prepared lists of all illegal societies present in their jurisdiction and sent the lists to the Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue (ADCR), Lahore requesting him to impose an immediate ban on the mutation of these illegal societies.

One of those letters, available with The News, stated “Request for imposition of ban on the issuance of fard-e-malkiat, registration of any documents and attestation of the mutation etc of illegal housing schemes.” The letter said it was intimated that, the request regarding subject matter has already been issued individually of each illegal housing scheme/land subdivision. However, it has been observed that these illegal housing schemes/land subdivisions were functional and performing sale/purchase of plots illegally.

“It is therefore again informed that, as per Lahore Development Authority Act 1975 U/S 13 (5), a person, local body or government agency shall not, within the area (Lahore District) prepare a planning or development scheme except with the concurrence of the Authority. As per LDA record, the sponsors/developers have established the following housing schemes/land subdivisions without obtaining permission from the Competent Authority (Locations on google imagery is enclosed). They have executed development works and sale/ purchase of plots illegally and without approval of design and specification of utility services from the departments concerned,” the letter maintained.

They said the officers of MP Wing also opposed the decision of elimination of the DEM (PHS) but the DG LDA didn’t consider their opinion. Sources said the MP Wing was already facing severe shortage of staff and elimination of DEM (PHS) will put an extra and enormous work pressure on them.

Sources said similarly elimination of DEM (PHS) will impact the routine working of Town Planning wing because stopping construction of buildings (residential, commercial and industrial( in any illegal society was the responsibility of DE (PHS).

LDA DG while talking to The News said the upcoming new model will improve transparency and coordination among LDA’s MP and other wings. He said the new changes are being introduced to safeguard the interests of the citizens as well as to improve the image of the department. To a question, he said strict action will be taken against all illegal societies as soon as the new changes will come into force.