LAHORE:Besides resolving several longstanding issues, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) during the year 2019 has completed different development projects, introduced institutional reforms and updated relevant laws for meeting present day requirements. Fate of LDA City project had been shrouded with uncertainty for quite some time. In order to get rid of this situation, the authority arranged the land required for allocating plots to all the 9,000 plus file-holders in a short span of just nine months, after the Supreme Court had passed orders in this regard.
Development works are now in progress at a cost of Rs3.0 billion in Phase-1 of LDA City, named as Jinnah Sector, spreading over 13,000-kanal. Plot numbers had been allocated to all the 9,712 file-holders through computerised balloting with the help of Punjab Information Technology Board on 30th November.
The issue of handing over possession of plots to more than 2,000 allottees of LDA Avenue-1 had been lingering on for the past 16 years due to litigation and dispute over land with six private housing schemes in the areas. The governing body of Lahore Development Authority decided to settle the issue through negotiation with these schemes and offered 30 percent exemption in lieu of the land to be surrendered by them. Three out of six schemes had so far accepted this offer resulting in availability of 623 plots for giving possession to the relevant allottees. Negotiations were under way with the other schemes as well for making available plots for the remaining allottees.
Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project had been initiated in 2015. Lahore Development Authority completed the civil work for the train's operation during 2019 and made relevant arrangements for the trial run of the train by Punjab Mass Transit Authority. Repair, rehabilitation and uplifting of 46 roads in the city, was carried out at a cost of Rs600 million.
Project for improvement, beautification, traffic management and horticulture work at Thokar Niaz Baig junction, started on the direction by the chief minister for improving the outlook o entry and exit points of Lahore, was now in final stages.
Work for construction of entry gate of Lahore named as 'Bab-e-Lahore' at Multan Road near Thokar Niaz Baig has been started and the project will be completed at a cost of Rs250 million.
In line with the vision of Prime Minister for saving precious agricultural land for cultivation purposes and encouraging construction of high-rise buildings for providing accommodation to the people, Lahore Development Authority approved the Building and Zoning Regulations 2019, in consultation with private sector experts and other stakeholders.
As a result of approval of these regulations, maximum limit for height of buildings had been increased and more dwelling units could now be constructed in multi-storey buildings. These regulations will help in boosting construction activities and related industries, creating new job opportunities and providing affordable residential facilities to the people.
On directions by the Supreme Court for formulating new commercialisation policy for the city, Lahore Development Authority endorsed the draft of Land Use Rules 2019 and forwarded them to the Punjab Cabinet for final approval.
Lahore Development Authority also started initial work for preparation of new master plan 2040. It approved ToRs for appointment of consultant for this purpose. New master plan will be prepared for all the urban and rural areas in Lahore Division as per the ToRs.
For the first time in the history of LDA, appointment of legal advisers was made purely on merit. The legal advisers were selected through open competition. Applications were invited from interested lawyers by publishing advertisement in widely circulated national newspapers and a comprehensive selection procedure was followed for hiring services of competent legal advisers.
A Legal Management System was introduced in LDA for vigorously following law suits in courts. A detailed SOP of Law Directorates of LDA was issued, stipulating duties and responsibilities of officers working in Law Directorates as well as the legal advisers besides setting timelines for filing para-wise comments of legal cases.
Lahore Development Authority and National Database & Registration Authority entered into an agreement whereby LDA was granted access to NADRA database. LDA could now authenticate credentials of sellers and purchaser of plots through biometric verification. This step will help to minimise chances of fraud and impersonation in the transfer of properties.
LDA established public facilitation centres in districts of Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. It also set up a WhatsApp helpline for receiving public complaints. Lahore Development Authority launched a massive tree plantation campaign under the title 'Let's make Lahore Green' thousands of new saplings were planted in different housing schemes of LDA.
Under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme of the prime minister, LDA supervised plantation campaign in approved private housing schemes as well. Private sector also joined hands with LDA in its plantation drive as corporate social responsibility.
A paint company adopted the central park of LDA Avenue-1, measuring 100-kanal. A beverage company provided 10,000 saplings for plantation in the Finance & Trade Centre, Johar Town. A local organisation collaborated with LDA and started setting up Miyawaki forest on an area of 21,000 sq ft in Liberty Market, Lahore.
On request by LDA, paint company carried out beautification and painting of two underpasses along Canal Road, Lahore on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. These underpasses included Ch Rahmat Ali and Chakar Azam Rind underpasses.
Later, the paint company signed an MoU for looking after these underpasses for a period of five years. Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) offered for beautification and branding of 19 underpasses along Canal Road and signed an MoU with LDA in this regard. Lahore Development Authority also launched a crackdown against land grabbers and retrieved state land worth millions in Johar Town, Tajpura, Sabazazar and other housing schemes.
In order to safeguard the precious money of prospective buyers of plots, operation against 175 illegal housing schemes were also carried out and infrastructure of these housing schemes, including under construction roads, sewerage system, green belts and offices were demolished.
