LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority (LDA), on the directives of Director General Tahir Farooq, has launched a major crackdown against illegal commercial buildings, unlawful commercial use and commercial fee defaulters, sealing a total of 134 properties across different areas falling under LDA control. LDA teams conducted operations in Gulberg, Model Town, Gulshan Ravi, Gujjarpura, New Muslim Town, Azam Garden and Mustafa Town. During the action, several properties were sealed over illegal commercial use, violations of rules and regulations, and non-payment of commercial fees. According to officials, LDA teams sealed 46 properties in Gulberg and Model Town over illegal commercial use, while 63 properties were preceded against in Gulshan Ravi, Gujjarpura and New Muslim Town for unlawful commercial activities and non-payment of commercial fees. Similarly, during a recovery operation, 46 properties were also sealed in Azam Garden and Mustafa Town. The sealed properties included private schools, colleges, academies, beauty salons, clinics, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, electric stores, restaurants, food points, shops, offices and other commercial units. According to the LDA, the operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asaduzzaman. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue. He added that no leniency would be shown to properties violating laws in LDA controlled areas.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved development projects worth billions of rupees under the District Development Plan, aimed at further empowering districts financially and administratively through the use of local revenue. An important meeting of commissioners was held under the chairmanship of the Punjab chief minister, during which the commissioners of Sahiwal, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Multan divisions gave detailed briefings on available resources, local revenue and proposed development schemes in their respective areas. Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif made it clear that mere formality or “eyewash” in development projects would not be acceptable, adding that real groundwork must be visible. She directed commissioners to remain present in the field instead of being confined to their offices and to directly supervise development work. The chief minister said that where the administration has authority, responsibility also rests with it. Describing commissioners as the government’s “eyes, ears and arms,” she said no negligence would be tolerated in resolving public issues, accelerating development projects and maintaining the quality of work. During the meeting, the chief minister expressed strong anger over the incident in Faisalabad in which a young girl died after falling into an open pit. She ordered that if any citizen falls into a manhole, the owners of the relevant housing society will be arrested. The chief minister also directed that notices be issued to private housing societies across Punjab and that they submit a monthly affidavit confirming that no manholes are left open within their boundaries. She further ordered that all construction sites be secured in accordance with standard operating procedures and that the protection of citizens’ lives and property be ensured at all costs. Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed effective monitoring of government and private school buildings, proper cordoning of construction sites and the continuation of deep cleaning campaigns in all tehsils. She said providing citizens with a safe, clean and improved urban environment is a basic responsibility of the administration. During the briefing, it was stated that local government funds worth Rs 4 billion are available for the Sahiwal Division. These funds will be used for the reconstruction of urban roads, improvement of footpaths, beautification of entry points and provision of other basic facilities. The chief minister directed the establishment of international standard roads, modern footpaths and improved urban infrastructure in Sahiwal. Orders were also issued for the installation of solar streetlights on Main Akbar Road in Okara, floodlights at Jinnah Stadium, and beautification of canal banks along with the installation of solar lights in Pakpattan. A target has been set to complete all 17 development schemes in Sahiwal Division by September 2026. The meeting also approved development projects for Sargodha Division worth Rs2.8 billion from local revenue. The chief minister directed that the installation of Safe City cameras in Sargodha be expedited, urban roads in Bhakkar be upgraded, and a family park and bus stand be constructed in Quaidabad. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed that the quality of development work must remain uniform across the province and that no compromise be made on the standard of any project. She said all projects would be completed on the basis of public need, merit and transparency, with no room for favoritism or nepotism.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] Lahore Development Authority Director General Tahir Farooq visited three major development projects currently under way in the provincial capital and reviewed the pace, quality and overall progress of construction work in detail. The LDA DG inspected the Data Darbar Expansion Project, the under construction Bhati Chowk Underpass, the Nasser Bagh Underground Parking Plaza and the Neela Gumbad Underground Parking Plaza. During the visit, TEPA Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain and the relevant project directors briefed him on the current status of the schemes, construction phases and upcoming targets. According to the briefing, work on the Neela Gumbad Underground Parking Plaza is progressing simultaneously on all three basements. The roof work of basement three has been completed up to 80 percent, basement two up to 65 percent, while 15 percent of the roof work on the basement one has also been completed. Officials said the project, once completed, would help reduce parking problems in the city’s central business district. Regarding the Nasser Bagh Underground Parking Plaza, officials informed the DG that 49 percent of the overall work has been completed. Fifty percent of the roof work on the basement one has been finished, while construction activity is also continuing simultaneously on basement two. The completion of the project is expected to significantly improve parking facilities around Nasser Bagh, The Mall and adjoining areas. Tahir Farooq also reviewed construction work on the Data Darbar Expansion Project and the Bhati Chowk Underpass. He was informed that 35 percent excavation work on the Bhati Chowk Underpass has been completed, while the roof of the underpass barrel has also been laid. Officials said the Bhati Chowk Underpass project is now 46 percent complete overall. The LDA DG directed the contractor of the Bhati Chowk Underpass to further speed up work, stressing that there would be no compromise on construction quality along with timely completion of the projects. He also inspected ongoing work on the pedestrian underpass, toilet block and pedestrian zone. Tahir Farooq instructed the relevant officers to strictly monitor progress on all three projects and review the pace of work on a daily basis. He also directed NESPAK to regularly monitor construction quality and submit monitoring reports so that the projects can be completed on time in accordance with the required standards.