LAHORE: Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has approved Lahore Master Plan-2050 besides giving nod to ‘one-window’ facility for expatriate Pakistanis in the housing schemes of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

Presiding over the LDA governing body meeting on Monday, the chief minister stated that because of the one-window facility, overseas Pakistanis would be able to purchase plots from the LDA in a day, adding they would also get the plots transferred in their name the same day.

He also directed to the officials concerned to execute Shahdara plan as soon as possible so that its construction work could be launched.

Consultant Mr David gave a detailed briefing on the Lahore Master Plan-2050 at the meeting that also discussed economic development, regional strategy and other issues.

One-window facility for expats buying plots in LDA schemes

Stressing the need to consider the residential needs of the growing population of Lahore in the master plan, he said those living on the suburbs would also be provided the same facilities as being enjoyed by the city dwellers to reduce the burden on the metropolis.

He stressed that large-scale tree planting should be under taken to establish buffer zones and added that the public transport system would also be developed on modern lines, besides construction of interchanges and flyovers to ease traffic movement.

Instead of acquiring more agricultural lands, he said, multi-storey buildings should be promoted.

The chief minister also approved construction of an overhead bridge for motorcyclists at Azadi Chowk and a flyover and an underpass to make Akbar Chowk signal-free.

Amendments in the LDA Building and Zoning Regulation, 2019 were also approved.

He also approved negotiations with the parties to acquire land in Johar Town, Mouza Chak Mozang and resolve disputes in the LDA Avenue-1.

He said the constitution of a development sub-committee was also approved for the LDA schemes, that would also include parliamentarians.

The meeting agreed to resolve the issues in Mouza Kharak, Khyber Block of Allama Iqbal Town and Gulshan Ravi according to the judicial and legal orders.

The extension in the payment period for LDA Avenue-1 arrears and lifting of the moratorium on development work for TEPA were also approved, besides regularization of pending plots in Johar Town. LDA governing body’s previous meeting decisions were also approved.

Senior minister Aslam Iqbal, provincial adviser Aamir Saeed Raan, former principal secretary to CM GM Sikandar, vice-chairman Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood, parliamentarians including Sadia Sohail Rana, Malik Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Atif, Aamir Riaz Qureshi, Tariq Sana Bajwa, secretaries, LDA director general, WASA managing director also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2022