Notices issued to 1,209 dangerous buildings in Lahore

LAHORE: The building control department of the 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 a 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. The 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 they were trying to overcome it with full determination. “We are facing several mafias 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, they are in the process of increasing the required manpower as well so that their 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.