LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority’s strategic policy unit (SPU) has ‘discovered’ 49 more plots of various sizes in phase-II of Johar Town during the ongoing land audit.

The number of total discovered plots in nine of the 20 blocks of phase-II has reached 129 worth Rs1 billion. Since these plots are situated at G1, G2, G3, G4, J, J1, J2, J3, and H blocks, the verification of another 100 plots discovered in other blocks is under way these days, Dawn has learnt.

According to LDA officials, besides ownership documents, no record of payment of dues and physical possession was available. The LDA has uploaded the list on its website www.lda.gop.pk besides advertising it in print media.

“We urge those claiming to be the owners of these plots to immediately contact the LDA’s urban planning specialist, if they possess documents. The authority will sell these plots through an open auction and no excuse will be entertained afterwards,” an LDA spokesman told Dawn on Sunday.

He said the land audit in some other schemes, including Faisal and Muslim towns, would begin in the second phase.

“Of 129 plots, claimants of only two have so far approached the LDA and declared them as owners. However, the administration has asked them to show the ownership record to the directorate of land development-1 with immediate effect,” he said. Talking to Dawn, SPU’s urban planning specialist Chaudhry Muhammad Akram said identification of over 100 such plots was also expected in the remaining blocks of the phase-II.

“At present we are searching record related to 100 more plots situated at R1, R2, R3 etc. And if there will be no record, we will sell these through an open auction,” Mr Akram said.

He said a majority of plots (5 to 20 marlas) found in phase-II were situated at prime locations near or along the Canal Road.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2016