LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has failed to complete the construction of 11 sports complexes in various National Assembly constituencies despite LDA’s engineering wing’s commitment of completing six of them by April last, Dawn has learnt.

Work on these complexes was launched in 2017.

“It is wondering that despite receiving funds of about Rs5 billion or so, the LDA has failed to complete even a single complex till date,” an official requesting anonymity added. The work on Rs8 billion sports complexes in NA constituencies of Lahore was launched at a fast pace, but it was halted from June to August 2018 (during the interim government) and then by the PTI-led Punjab government after the 2018 general elections. Later, the PTI government released Rs1.5bn more for the project. After the release of more funds, the LDA resumed construction work and kept doing this at a fast pace till October 2021.

“A sum of Rs1.25bn was also released for the completion of these projects in January, but the work remained slow,” the official said.

Talking to Dawn, Project Director Mirza Inam dispelled the impression, stating that three of the total 11 would be completed in the next couple of months. They are in Sabzazar Housing Scheme, China Scheme and Islamia Ground.

“The grey structure of these (three) complexes has been completed,” he said.

“The civil work on the remaining eight is also underway.”

He said the lack of funds, labour shortage and some other technical and administrative issues delayed the timely completion of the projects.

Work on the LDA City Naya Pakistan Housing Project is also slow and missed the last deadline of September/October 2021 set for the completion of the 35 blocks (each comprises 32 apartments) of the project’s phase-I of 1,120 of the total 4,000 apartments.

Similarly, the development works at the LDA City Housing Scheme’s Jinnah sector is still incomplete despite the passage of a couple of deadlines last year.

When contacted, an official knowing the issues related to the projects, shared the issues behind the delay in this regard.

“There is a major issue of soil stability that was resolved after various treatments. Another issue was related to the arrangement of financing by the banks,” the official told Dawn.

He said the grey structures of the 35 blocks had been completed, paving the way for completing the finishing works by the end of this year.

He said 90 per cent of the work on the LDA City Development had been completed, adding the issues related to electrification at the LDA City scheme didn’t come under those getting the civil work completed.

On the other hand, the Rs700 million Aik Moria Pul project also continues to face delays. The project is very critical to making a smooth flow of traffic and public mobility in the area around the Walled City of Lahore (near Sheranwala Gate).

The LDA launched this project around three years ago, but it is still ongoing even after two deadlines. Under the plan, the existing holes/passage were to be closed down and replacing them with the construction of four new, besides widening the intersection, constructing roads and various allied works.

“We have almost completed the civil works, but the land acquisition of Banarsi DA’s building has yet to be done. If it is acquired at the earliest, we will be able to demolish this and open the fourth passage (holes/underpass) for the public,” Project Director Saifi told Dawn.

He said the reason behind the delay in the land acquisition was that the families living in the building were demanding Lahore Orange Line’s land acquisition-like compensation.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022