LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has finally succeeded in reducing the cost of a 650 sqft single-storey housing unit from over Rs3.855 million to Rs2.224 million in the first phase of LDA’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme in Lahore.

Under phase-1, the LDA plans to construct 4,000 housing units for its employees. Thousands of more similar units have been planned to be constructed in other phases of the project. The authority has also approved a revised PC-1 worth Rs9.917 billion.

According to the minutes of a recent LDA governing body meeting, the housing units have been planned to be constructed over a piece of land falling in the LDA City housing scheme. The apartment complex is being considered to be developed on an area of around 8,500 kanal for 35,000 units in three years.

Besides the construction of apartment complex, allied infrastructure facilities such as streets, roads & walkways, water supply system, sewerage & drainage system, external electrification, landscaping & horticulture works etc would also be carried out by the LDA.

Services of a technical consultant for the Engineering Design of the apartment complex and allied infrastructure works have also been hired. The layout plan of complex, architectural design of apartment buildings and all the allied infrastructure works design have been finalised by quarters concerned.

“Initially, PC-I for the scheme amounting to Rs192.480 billion was prepared based on market rates system and it was put up for approval at meetings on July 28 and 30, 2020. The Authority directed to prepare PC-Il of the project which was approved by the LDA Authority in its 4th/2020 meeting. It further referred the matter of approval of instant PC-I to Development Working Party with a direction to firm up the PC-I based on Plinth Area Rates /Yard Stick of C&W Buildings Department,” read the minutes.

The minutes reveal that the DWP in its meeting on Aug 18 unanimously recommended the Project “Construction of LDA City Naya Pakistan Apartments “ on Plinth Area Rates amounting to Rs226.84 billion for approval. The PC-l amounting to Rs226.84 billion was placed before the LDA’s Authority/Governing Body in its meeting held on Sept 28 for approval. The Authority directed to develop the infrastructure only and to submit the PC-I for infrastructure to be developed by the LDA in the next DWP meeting.

Furthermore, the Authority directed to constitute “LDA City Naya Pakistan Apartments Technical Committee” to finalise technical/design specifications and financial proposals regarding Expression of Interest (EOI). In addition, the Technical Committee was also tasked to bring the cost of 650 sqft apartment within Rs2.5 million.

“A meeting of the committee was held on Oct 10 as per scope of work. And meanwhile, on the advice of LDA Vice Chairman, the design consultant of the project worked out a proposal by exploring the avenues of alternate construction technology/ materials vis-à-vis construction cost and contained the cost of single apartment within Rs2.5 million which included cost of land indicated by the office of Additional Director General (Urban Planning) and cost of infrastructure.

After finalization of technical/design specifications of the project, the PC-I of the phase-l of the scheme which comprise 4,000 units was framed amounting to Rs10.375 billion,” the minutes explain.

“The PC-I amounting to Rs10.375 billion was presented in DWP meeting held on Nov 11 that further recommended reducing it to Rs9.817 billion. And finally approved it,” the minutes maintain.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2021