LAHORE: In a bid to promote vertical and discourage horizontal growth and keeping in view the growing residential, commercial and industrial need in Lahore, the government has allowed construction of 121 apartment buildings at various locations of the city.

The construction plans/designs have been approved by the town planning wing of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Dawn has learnt.

“The building plans of 121 apartment buildings were approved during a period of nine months - from March to December 31, last year. Dozens of more such plans are currently under consideration these days,” an official source told Dawn on Monday.

According to a document made available to Dawn, the LDA’s TP wing, during this period, also approved plans/maps of 5,656 residential buildings (houses) in its controlled area. It further approved plans of 284 commercial and industrial buildings besides issuing completion certificates to 903 buildings completed already.

It allowed land use conversion (agriculture to industrial or any project of public interest) to 202 projects. Thirteen building projects were approved under area development scheme while 6,067 buildings were either demolished partially or completely or sealed for flouting town planning regulations.

“As many as 232 FIRs were also lodged against those found flouting building laws and regulations,” said the document.

ADMIN: Lahore Commissioner retired Capt Muhammad Usman has sought registration of FIR against the respective civic agency (Wasa, town or municipal administration, PTCL etc) on any complaint related to non-covering of the manholes.

“If any manhole is seen without cover and any incident occurs due to this, the respective civic agency would be held responsible in all districts of Lahore division. FIRs would also be launched against those responsible for this,” Mr Usman said while presiding over a meeting here on Monday.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2022