LAHORE: To make nine major roads encroachment-free, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday launched a mega operation in Johar Town and sealed several premises, including seven branches of commercial banks.

According to officials, the LDA teams, along with the police, sealed four restaurants, and 20 food points on Abdul Haq Road (Johar Town’s G-1 market road). Also, 60 premises, including shops and buildings, were sealed for creating encroachments that caused traffic congestion and public inconvenience.

The teams also dismantled extended shades and floors besides confiscating other moveable items such as chairs, tables, boards, and tents.

In the first phase, Abdul Haq Road and Iqbal Town’s main boulevard (from Bhekaywal Morr to Scheme Morr) will be made model roads. In phase 2, the remaining seven major roads will be cleared of such obstacles, a senior official told Dawn.

It merits mentioning that the anti-encroachment operations were launched last month vigorously following the orders of the Lahore High Court on a writ petition, seeking measures by the government to control pollution and smog. Before the launch of operations letters were written to the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency and the Lahore Parking Company to make efforts to end on-street parking, which, according to the court’s directions, should not be allowed since it is also one of the main hurdles to the smooth flow of traffic.

According to the LDA, a citizen had filed a writ petition in the LHC against a surge in smog, pollution, and other urban problems affecting the health of the public. The petitioner also sought a remedy from the court under the constitution and requested it to direct the LDA and other civic agencies to take action.

Accepting the petition, the LHC ordered the LDA to launch an operation for clearing encroachments from the roads.

The action includes demolition of the extended portions of the premises, sealing of the premises, disconnection of utility services, imposition of fines and other major penalties, and lodging of FIRs against those involved in contributing to smog, pollution, and other issues.

The roads, which are to be made model roads/areas, include Gulberg (Zahoor Elahi Road and link road namely Hali Road and MM Alam Road), Mustafa Town (main road starting from Wahdat Road), Jubilee Town (main road starting from Link Canal Road), LDA Avenue-1 (main road starting from Jail Road), Garden Town (from Kalma Chowk to Faisal Town), Township (Khokhar Chowk to Hamdard Chowk), Johar Town (Doctors Hospital to Expo centre via Khokhar chowk) and Allama Iqbal Town (Bhekaywal Morr to Scheme Morr via Dubai Chowk).

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Gruesome murders
Updated 12 Jul, 2025

Gruesome murders

Long-term security can only be achieved when there is equitable development across Balochistan.
Solar policy
12 Jul, 2025

Solar policy

SOLAR net metering reforms are back in the limelight. On Thursday, Power Minister Awais Leghari announced that he...
New hope
12 Jul, 2025

New hope

EDUCATION shapes the destiny of a nation. Sadly, Pakistan’s public education sector is experiencing a national...
PIA privatisation
Updated 11 Jul, 2025

PIA privatisation

While it does give the privatisation authorities a much-needed head-start, it will not be sustainable unless preceded by policy and regulatory reforms.
Beyond expectations
11 Jul, 2025

Beyond expectations

THESE are tough times, but the country is lucky enough to still be considered home by a large expatriate workforce,...
Train in vain
11 Jul, 2025

Train in vain

TALK of ‘revival’ of the long-dead Karachi Circular Railway has turned into a running joke for denizens of this...