LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is all set to make its Walk & Shop Arena near Mian Plaza, Main Boulevard, Johar Town, operational as the government has asked it to go for auction of the shops, malls, restaurants and other facilities next month.

The project will prove to be a major source of income for the LDA in particular, the government and businesses in general, Dawn has learnt. It is going to be a major shopping and eating facility for the general public.

“The project was launched in 2018. However, the work on it was halted after the new government (of the PTI) came into power. The then government not only halted the construction but also seized funds allocated for it. It launched an inquiry against the officers and eventually led to complete stop of the work for two years. In 2021, the work resumed and it was completed last year,” a senior LDA official told Dawn on Saturday.

“The construction work on the project was launched when the sitting Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman was the LDA director general,” the official, requesting anonymity, added.

He said since the project required to be operational, Mr Zaman was of the view it should be showcased for all those interested in doing some businesses. He directed the LDA DG/Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa to take steps in this regard.

“Now the project is complete and set to be launched,” the official added.

According to a document, the salient features of the project include an amusement park over 15 kanal, amphitheatre, water channels, pergolas, music kiosk, flower fair, food kiosks, toddlers and kids playgrounds, mini golf, terror house, virtual reality, kids carousel, Ferris wheel, joy rides and wall climbing.

Constructed on an area of 130 kanals, the Rs2bn project has various architectural themes, including Mughal, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and American.

The Walk & Shop Arena has a mega shopping mall, restaurants, shops, streets, courtyards, sitting areas and parking facility for 500 vehicles and 500 motorcycles/cycles. The total 84 units include 64 shops, 15 restaurants and five big shops/halls.

“The project has been completed and will be launched soon. It has been built on the private sector model. It is a state-of-the-art shopping arena in the city,” Mr Randhawa said while presiding over a meeting about the project on Saturday.

The meeting was briefed that the project was unique among all the shopping centres of Punjab as it had shopping malls, playland, shops, rooftop restaurants, amusement park and space available for kids activities, courtyards, streets for walk and sitting area.

“It is a very attractive opportunity for investors in the city. Therefore, the LDA team must float the project for auction next month,” Mr Randhawa said while addressing the members of the project working group.

The additional DG Housing, chief engineer I, chief engineer II, chief town planner, director DG Headquarters, director Housing X, director LDA City, director Law and others concerned were also present in the meeting.

RETRIEVED: An LDA team, led by the Director Khurram Yaqoob, retrieved several plots of the authority worth millions from the land grabbers in Johar Town.

According to a spokesman, the plots retrieved in a major operation included Plot No 551 to 567 in E-2 Block (Johar Town), Plot No 415 in G-4 Block, Plot No 391 and 392 in H-1 and Plot No 37 and 586 in F Block.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2023