LAHORE: Various teams of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday sealed as many as 111 commercial properties/business premises on account of non-payment of commercialisation fee, penalties and illegal commercial use in different parts of the city.

According to a spokesman for the LDA, the teams sealed 32 properties in the areas of Gulshan-i-Ravi, Shadman Colony, Canal Road, Gulberg, Faisal Town, College Road, Township Bazaar and Allama Iqbal Town.

The teams sealed 20 properties in Faisal Town, 45 on College Road (Township) and 14 in Allama Iqbal Town. The sealed properties include private schools, academies, workshops, food points, hardware stores, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, clinics, shops and offices.

LDP: In a briefing held at the DC office the other day, the officers concerned told the participants that Phase-1 of the Lahore Development Programme (LDP) has been completed, while Phase-2 is underway, with 5,774 streets completed out of 8,780, representing 66 percent completion.

It was told that the work is in progress in 2,156 streets, whereas in 850 streets it will be started soon.

They said that overall progress is on track, hoping that the Phase-2 will meet its deadline.

On this occasion, the consultants, including NESPAK, were directed to ensure inspections of completed and ongoing works.

The allied departments were asked to improve coordination, adopt all safety protocols, ensure NESPAK maintains quality and makes no compromise on timeline, transparency and quality.

PRA: At a meeting presided over by the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra, all divisional commissioners were directed to expedite enforcement actions. According to a spokesperson, the campaign for collection of services tax from private housing schemes has also been expedited.

A report was presented, highlighting substantial recovery of services tax from leading housing societies in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The PRA chairman, on this occasion, emphasised that scrutiny of records of companies providing services in the housing sector should be completed at the earliest.

He further sought strict action against those failing to ensure transparent payments, despite deduction of taxes on services.

“As private housing societies collect significant monthly fees under various service heads, any malpractice in monthly tax payments will not be tolerated,” he warned.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026