LAHORE, June 23: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has exceeded by almost 300 per cent the target set for the collection of commercialization fee for 2004-05. The authority has so far collected Rs450 million against the target of Rs160 million. Commercialization director Wasim Ahmad said here on Thursday that the amount was likely to go up to Rs480 million by the end of June.

He said only 25 per cent areas of Lahore were under LDA’s jurisdiction while the administration of different towns under the city district government dealt with the 75 per cent area.

Mr Khan said the LDA collected much more than the total collection of town administrations although controlling comparatively much less area.

The authority gave incentives to the people by making 50 per cent reduction in commercialization fee for educational, health and information technology institutions to promote these sectors, he added.

He claimed that the procedure to commercialize a property had been simplified.

“In some areas LDA staff goes door to door asking people to pay commercialization fee to legalize their business places and issue them forms to deposit the required fee on the spot. While in the past people have to visit LDA offices for this purpose.”

He said the authority has to take legal course of action against those people who do not pay commercialization fee.—APP