LAHORE: Following Supreme Court orders, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) sealed on Friday 22 petrol pump sites in Lahore.

These sites were situated in Gulberg-III, New Garden Town, Model Town (extension), Faisal Town, Johar Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Township, Sabzazar and Gulshan Ravi schemes.

According to a spokesman, the sites had been leased out to oil companies many years ago on nominal rents and lease period of these sites had concluded years ago.

“The occupants had not paid any rent to LDA since 2009. They were occupying these places illegally under the excuse of restraining order by the court,” the spokesperson said.

The LDA, the spokesman said, leased out these sites to Pakistan State Oil and Shell Pakistan for three years and these companies illegally sublet them to other dealers. In July, the Supreme Court directed the LDA to lease the sites through open auction. “The LDA held an open auction of these sites last month but no side could be auctioned at this occasion due to the cartelization of petroleum dealers,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2018