LAHORE, Oct 18: Real estate dealers are offering a `good number’ of commercial plots in residential areas of the co-operative housing colonies in the southern part of the Punjab capital while `misinterpreting’ a revision of the bylaws of the Lahore Development Authority.

The authority has recently revised its bylaws regarding percentage of land reserved for commercial activities in the cooperative housing colonies, increasing it from the previous around two per cent to five per cent or so. However, banners offering plots in residential areas of some old housing colonies could be witnessed, especially on road from Wapda Town to Valencia.

“The rule will be applicable to new cooperative housing colonies,” said an official of the LDA town planning directorate.

However, several real estate dealers at Valencia, College Road, Johar and Wapda towns told this reporter that they had `prime location’ plots for sale at Valencia, PCSIR, Izmir and EME as the LDA has increased the proportion of land for commercial purposes in these schemes. But they would only disclose the exact location of the same to a “genuine customer having some money in the pocket to pay as token.”

They said the plots were residential but adjacent to commercial areas and their status could be changed after paying prescribed fee to the LDA.

“A housing colony is developed according to a master plan, approved by the authority. The master plan has details about the land use – what portion will be for residential or commercial purposes, for roads, parks and open spaces, public buildings and graveyard. The proportion or percentage of the land allocation for a specific purpose cannot be changed,” said the LDA official who wished not to be named.

He said that construction on any plot in any housing colony in the jurisdiction could not be initiated before getting the building plan approved from the LDA.

The authority has details of the master plans of all housing colonies and building plans were approved while keeping it in view the status -- commercial or residential -- of a specific plot.