LAHORE: Urban and development experts in a pre-consultative meeting on Saturday were unanimous that Lahore’s master plan should first focus on the planning of local areas before involving the adjoining districts of Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib.

They were also of the view that the Lahore Development Authority in consultation with the experts would have to set direction of the city’s expansion vertically or horizontally.

“Whatever you plan for the benefit of the residents, it must be implemented. But I as well as others are really surprised that your plans are making life of commoners difficult,” Kamil Khan Mumtaz, an architect by profession, deplored while speaking on the occasion. “Have you ever seen highways within urban areas of any city across the world? You can see such signal free corridors/highways in Lahore where a pedestrian cannot even cross the road.”

Since LDA continues to hold pre-consultative meetings to update the Lahore Division’s master plan 2021, the divisional administration too has joined hands with the civic body to help it amend the plan. Therefore, it held a meeting with the experts. LDA DG Ms Amna Imran Khan and her team members, urban experts and others concerned attended the meeting that was presided over by Lahore Commissioner Dr Muhammad Mujtaba Paracha.

Speaking on the occasion, Raza Ali, an urban expert, urged the LDA team to first focus on the planning of local areas instead of discussing the [LDA’s] vast mandate of the entire Lahore division. “You must set boundaries of every major locality in Lahore such as Gulberg, as the area continues to expand towards various directions,” he added.

Nadeemul Haq was of the view that the LDA’s master plan covers a huge area of 11,000 sq.kms that consists of Lahore and Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts. “You can see the urban areas of London and New York that consist of 608 and 666 sq-miles. They improved master planning of these cities first,” he added.

Almas Haider of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said the master planning [of Lahore] should focus on facilitating the industry that is always considered to be an economic engine of any country’s economy.

LDA DG Ms Amna Imran Khan said increase in population and commercialisation without adequate arrangements and planning had created so many issues. “Now we have decided to introduce amendments in the existing building bylaws.”

Talking to Dawn, Lahore Commissioner Dr Mujtaba Paracha termed the meeting beneficial in terms of receiving input from the urban experts.

ORANGE LINE: A special committee of experts headed by Sayed Zahid Hussain, a former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, paid a surprise visit to Mauj Darya Shrine and mosque — a spot situated in the construction area of the Orange Line.

The committee members witnessed heaps of trash in the precinct of the shrine due to non-construction of the retaining walls. They also noticed delay in the construction of the mosque.

“The departments concerned must complete the construction of the mosque and the retaining wall at the earliest,” said Mr Hussain.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018