LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Wednesday sealed 29 marriage halls and marquee sites over illegal land conversion, 50 properties for non-payment of commercial fee and 10 others demolished over unauthorised constructions during an operation.

LDA Director General Aamir Ahmed Khan directed to launch a campaign against encroachments, illegal commercialisation and commercial fee defaulters.

The LDA teams conducted a grand operation and sealed 29 illegal marriage halls and marquee sites along Canal Road and 50 properties were sealed for non-payment of commercialisation fee.

The teams also demolished 10 properties due to illegal constructions. The operations were led by Chief Town Planner Shakeel Anjum Minhas, Director Town Planning Zone VII Ayesha Mutahir, Deputy Director Umar Majeed, Director Town Planning Zone IV Sidra Tabasum, Director Town Planning Zone V Azhar Ali and Deputy Director Sikander Haroon.

The Town Planning Zone VII staff sealed 29 wedding halls and marquees for illegal conversion and violation of rules. The wedding halls were established around Canal Road including Qasr-e-Maryam Wedding Hall, Bara Dari Marquee, Muzamal Palace, Nawab Palace, Al Rehman Palace, Dera Marquee, Taj Palace, Victoria Palace and others.

The Town Planning Zone-V team demolished a shed and a petrol pump on Raiwind Road. They also partially demolished the illegal constructions around Adda Plot and a restaurant near Air Force society.

The team also demolished illegal shops established in LDA Avenue 1, F Block, and the building in J Block was sealed. The illegal construction on Plot No 543, A Block Jubilee Town was also demolished.

They also took action against defaulters of commercialisation fee and sealed 50 properties in Judicial Employees Society, Ali Town and Nawab Town. The properties were sealed for non-payment of dues despite repeated notices. The most sealed properties include food points, pharmacies and other shops.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023