LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) governing body, headed by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on Tuesday approved the Rs63.4bn annual budget of the LDA for the fiscal year 2021-22, subject to the changes by the planning and development, finance and housing departments.

However, the governing body approved the Rs48.7bn revised budget estimates for the last fiscal year 2020-21.

The LDA budget FY 2021-22 include Rs9.4bn already available for urban development wing, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Traffic Engineering & Planning Authority (Tepa), Rs22.5bn and Rs41.4bn to be received from the government as non-development, annual development programme and deposit work receipts. However, for the 2021-22, the LDA estimates spending of Rs61bn–Rs36.6bn for development projects of UD wing, Rs24bn for Wasa and Rs342m for Tepa schemes and other development and non-development works.

The body approved creation of another seat of the chief engineer, six-month extension to the validity of a commission setup for the rights of bona fide purchasers and the issues related to illegal housing schemes, Rs500m bridge financing for the LDA City Naya Pakistan apartment scheme, amendments to LDA building and zoning regulations 2019 and other proposals.

“We have already completed Firdaus Market Underpass. The work on three mega projects, namely Shahkam Chowk Flyover, Gulab Devi Underpass and Sheranwala Gate Flyover, is underway these days,” CM Buzdar said while speaking on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2021