LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) performance review meeting on Wednesday showed that there was a remarkable increase in recovery during the first three months of the current financial year.

Commissioner and LDA Director General (DG) Muhammad Ali Randhawa chaired a performance review meeting of Town Planning and CMP wings. It was informed that in the first three months of the current fiscal, there has been a 300 per cent increase in recovery compared to the same duration of the previous financial year.

A total of Rs3 billion have been collected in the first quarter as compared to Rs700 million in the same time period last year. There has been a substantial improvement in efficiency of town planning after the appointment of two chief planners, Muhammad Ali Randhawa added.

During the meeting, Mr Randhawa assigned tasks to both departments to further enhance service delivery.

He also directed the simplification of the SOPs for the approval of building plans, aiming to streamline the process for the convenience of citizens.

He ordered the creation of prototype maps for three, five, 10 marlas, and Kanal plots, which will be made accessible to the public. He called for the immediate blacklisting of agents and groups involved in the approval of maps and instructed the establishment of a department of environment counter at LDA One Window for NOC approval.

The DG also conducted a detailed review of the individual performances of all town planning officers, inquiring about their recovery, actions taken, and field visits.

He probed officers regarding approved maps, progress on building plans, and completion certificates. Stressing the importance of taking corrective measures, he urged officers to remain active in the field.

Meanwhile, the LDA initiated actions against illegal constructions and commercial buildings in various areas, including Johar Town, Pine Avenue, and Lahore Avenue, among others. Several illegal constructions and commercial properties were sealed and demolished, signboards were removed, and various other violations were addressed.

Furthermore, the ongoing operation against defaulters of commercialisation fees led to more than 15 properties being sealed by the staff of Director Town Planning Zone II in Sabzazar, where repeated notices had been issued to the owners.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2023