WCLA issues notices to 1,209 dangerous buildings

LAHORE

Building control department of Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has issued notices to 1,209 dangerous and illegal buildings.

Officials said the authority is functioning effectively inside the walled city of Lahore to overcome the illegal constructions and encroachments. They said during the last one year the building control department had issued 1,209 notices to the dangerous and illegal constructions inside the walled city of Lahore whereas almost 420 illegal buildings constructing basements and adding structures without approval by the authority have been sealed inside the walled city of Lahore.

The officials added that Istighasa (Private complaint to magistrate) has been launched against 396 illegal properties while number of FIRs against illegal properties is 740 and partially demolished are 160. These properties are located inside different wards of walled city which are inside Taxali Gate, Lohari Gate, Masti Gate and Rim market, Mochi Gate, Shah Almi Gate, Akbari Gate, Yakki Gate, Sheranwala Gate and Kashmiri Gate. Total 2,925 actions have been taken so far.

Riffat Pasha, Deputy Director, Building Control WCLA, said that there was a huge menace of illegal constructions inside the walled city of Lahore and we are trying to overcome it with full determination. We are facing several mafia in this regard but I am contented that the political will is with the WCLA. “We are being helped out by the political groups in fighting the mafia. Our team is surveying different wards of walled city, Lahore during the night time and it is becoming effective now that we are able to seal and catch the ongoing works immediately. Our assistant director enforcement and building control are leading teams in different wards of the walled city to look after these matters,” he maintained.

Najam-us-Saqib, Director Conservation and Building Control WCLA, said that to catch up with the pace we are in process to increase the required manpower as well so that our team becomes more efficient and effective in all the walled city of Lahore. There are deep roots of illegal constructions inside the walled city and this will surely take some time to stop, he said, adding it all cannot happen overnight and I am sure that we will make this city a heritage zone by controlling all these issues. “Dangerous buildings are another matter we are facing inside the walled city and notices have been served on the residents. Those who cannot repair their houses, we are trying to fix them with government budget but we have a criteria for doing so. Only the heritage houses in danger will be saved by the government funding,” he maintained.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said, no doubt, walled city is a heritage site and this place should be cleared of all the illegal high rise constructions.

“I am confident that my team will surely meet its goals and targets by working round-the-clock. Like other heritage cities of the world we will be soon making the walled city a heritage site with improved traffic system and tourist facilities,” he concluded.

Spring festival: Spring Festival 2017 began at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore on Monday with the theme of “Celebrate Spring and Adding Colours in Life”. 

According to a press release issued here on Monday, on the first day, competitions of Na'at, Qiraat, scientific models and posters were arranged by the Senior Tutor Office. In Na'at competition, male category, Rehan Ashraf got first position, Mehmood Raza got second and Usman Muneer got third position while in female category Nailish Ahmad got first position, Mishi Khan second and Ayesha Yaqoob got third position.

In Qiraat competition male category, Hafiz Muhammad Zaid got first position, Hafiz Muhammad Rauf got second position and Hafiz Abdullah got third position while in female category Hafiza Ayesha got first position, Bisma Idrees got second position and Hafiza Hafza Tahir stood on third position.

In poster competition, Amina Mustafa & Group (Microbiology), Samaddiya & Group (IPS) got first position, Naureen Abbas & Group (IPS) got second and Sania & Group stood third.

In scientific model competition, Ismat Siddique & Group (Microbiology) got first position, Husnain & Group (Nutrition) got second and Syed Sarfraz & Group (IPS) and Habib Ahmad & Group (IPS) shared third position. 

Renowned Na'at Khawan Irshad Ahmad Chishti and Justice (r) Nazeer Ahmad Ghazi were chief guests on the occasion.

They gave away shields and cash prizes to the Na'at-Qiraat contest winners while UVAS Senior Tutor Prof Dr Kamran Ashraf distributed cash prizes and certificates among the scientific model/poster contest winners. A large number of students and faculty members were present in the event.

Students from various departments participated in these competitions.