LAHORE – The proposal for establishing a building control authority to regulate construction activity in the City has been finalised and submitted for approval to the Punjab government.
This was disclosed during a meeting held on Saturday to review the proposed amendments to the LDA Act 1975. The meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Senator Pervaiz Rashid. MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique, MPA Mian Muhammad Nauman, Lahore DCO Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, LDA Vice Chairman Amir Asghar Dar, LDA Director General Ahad Khan Cheema, representatives of provincial Law, Housing and Local Government departments, and legal advisors of the City District Government Lahore and LDA attended the meeting.
The meeting proposed that because of the rapid expansion of Sheikhupura, Lahore and Kasur districts towards one another, a regional planning authority was needed to chalk out development plans for physical infrastructure as well as provision of basic communities of life such as potable water, sewerage and sanitation, housing, education, health, and other facilities.
The meeting was informed that the LDA Act was promulgated in 1975 to improve the quality of life, establish an integrated metropolitan and regional development approach, and continue with the process of planning and development. Since then no considerable amendment has been made to the LDA Act for meeting the emerging challenges.
The participants observed that in view of the changing requirements, it is expedient that the jurisdiction of the LDA may be enlarged from District Lahore to Lahore Division. Such enlargement in future will bring conformity in the planning and will save the cities from mushroom and unguided growth.
Also, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahad Khan Cheema has ordered transfers of three directors. As per details, Muhammad Asad Ameer, Director (General Cadre/BS-19), working as Director Education, has been transferred and directed to report to Directorate of Administration.
Rana Tikka Khan, Director (General Cadre/BS-19), awaiting posting Admin, has been posted as Director Education. Rana Yaqoob, Director (General Cadre/BS-19), awaiting posting Admin, has been posted as Director Vice Chairman’s (HQ), relieving Jamshed Siddiqui, PSO to Chairman, from the additional charge of the said post.
Additional Director General (HQ) Maryam Kiyani has posted Rehan Akbar Khawaja, Assistant Director (General Cadre), awaiting posting Admin, in the Directorate of Recovery with immediate effect.