LAHORE: Stakeholders in the real estate sector have urged the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to simplify the difficult procedures related to approval of housing schemes.

Under the banner of the Association of Builders and Developers, they have also demanded the government review the massive taxation on the real estate sector to boost construction activities and allied industry.

“The processing of the cases concerning housing societies / schemes approval is really very tough that must be simplified by introducing reforms,” ABAD (North Region) Chairman Sheikh Nabeel said while speaking at a meeting presided over by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq.

“We will submit to you various suggestions in this regard soon,” added Mr Nabeel who was flanked by newly-elected office-bearers of the association.

The office-bearers were also of the view that since the massive taxation had left a very negative impact on the real estate sector, the government must review this to ease out the burden on the buyers and investors. They gave various suggestions to amend building and zoning and land-use rules and regulations.

SEALED: Teams of the LDA town planning wing sealed 72 properties on account of non-payment of commercialisation fee in the localities of Gulshan-i-Ravi, Khayaban-i-Firdausi, Johar Town and Allama Iqbal Town, according to a spokesman.

SNGPL: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd teams disconnected another 121 connections, imposing Rs3.5m fine on gas pilferers.

In Lahore, the SNGPL team disconnected 15 connections for illegal gas usage and one for the use of a compressor, imposing a total fine of Rs0.59m. In Gujranwala, four illegal connections were severed, with fines amounting to Rs0.06m were imposed. Faisalabad saw the disconnection of three illegal connections with Rs0.03m fine imposed. The Sheikhupura team disconnected one connection and levied a fine of Rs1.04m.

In Multan, 18 illegal connections were cut off, with five more disconnected for compressor usage. In Sahiwal, one illegal connection and two compressor-related cases were addressed while in Bahawalpur, 10 compressor cases were identified and gas supply was disconnected.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024