LAHORE: The government has suspended the notification of taking over building control of 15 prime roads in the city district by the deputy commissioner-led high level design committee reportedly over the concerns shown by the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) of Pakistan.

The association had written a complaint to Prime Minister Imran Khan against the notification.

“On Jan 23, Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik had issued a notification, declaring 15 city roads to be part of the areas controlled by design committee. However, the notification was suspended after the PM took notice of ABAD’s complaint to him that had termed the move against the spirit of facilitating business—something on the priority list of the government,” an official source told Dawn on Thursday.

According to Jan 23 notification, the DC had declared 15 city roads as controlled area of the high level committee he headed to approve building plans on the important roads. The committee has already been approving building plans of 20 roads in the metropolis.

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“In pursuance of the Government of Punjab Local Government & Community Development Notification bearing No SO.Estate(LG)2-64/2006 (A) (Part-I) of December 9, 2019 and the decision taken thereof in the meeting of High Level Design Committee (HLDC) held on January 15, 2021, I Muddassir Riaz Malik, Deputy Commissioner/Chairman HLDC hereby declare Main Boulevard Road, M.M. Alam Road, Noor Jahan Road, Mehmood Kasoori Road, Ali Zeb Road and Zahoor Elahi Road in Gulberg. Kalma Chowk to Jinnah Hospital (Allama Shabir Ahmed Usmani Road), PEECO Road, College Road, Model Town Link Road, Doctor Hospital to Expo Center, Johar Town (Abdul Haq Road), Thokar Niaz Baig to Shoukat Khanam (Nazria Pakistan Road), Main Raiwind Road, Egerton Road and Maulana Shaukat Ali Road as HLDC controlled roads in addition to already notified roads (sic),” reads the notification.

It sought that the building plans of commercial and industrial buildings, including multi-storey residential buildings, falling on the aforementioned roads, within 200 yards of either side should be placed before the design committee within the timeline approved/notified by the government for ratification and consideration.

“No building plan shall be sanctioned after issuance of this notification on declared roads, unless it is presented before HLDC for ratification,” it warned.

At this, ABAD immediately sent a letter to PM Khan under intimation to Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Chief Secretary Jawad Rafiq Malik, LDA Vice Chairman SM Imran, DG Ahmad Aziz Tarar, retired Lt General Anwar Ali Hyder (Naya Pakistan Housing Authority chairman) and others and sought immediate action.

“We at ABAD duly appreciate your vision for flourishing of Construction Industry and Housing Sector and Naya Pakistan Housing Program which will change the future of this Country. But the issue in question is a Notification No 75-CMO (P/A) of January 23 issued by the DC by virtue of which around 15 areas/roads of Lahore have been declared as High Level Design Committee (HLDC) controlled roads (sic),” reads the letter.

It termed the move a bureaucratic approach of controlling the commercial hub of Lahore, stating that it might hamper the fast-track building plan approvals by the LDA, resulting in delay/stoppage of all construction and housing activities in Lahore.

“We strongly protest against this notification and request you to save the construction Industry/Housing Sector in Lahore by taking immediate notice for issuance of orders for withdrawal of this and previously notifications issued for declaration of roads as HLDC controlled area (sic),” the letter written by ABAD Chairman Sheraz J Monnoo on Jan 26 demanded.

After receipt of the letter, the government immediately suspended the DC’s notification through a letter issued on Jan 27, saying, “The notification issued on January 23 regarding the declaration of HLDC controlled roads and subsequent order issued on January 26 is hereby suspended on administrative grounds,” said a letter issued by the high level design committee secretary/chief metropolitan officer on Jan 27.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Monnoo termed the decision to suspend the notification a good move for the construction industry.

“Under ease of doing business, a building plan must be approved within 60 days that is already being done swiftly by the LDA. But the DC’s decision of adding 15 more roads into the HLDC controlled area/roads was strange since it was against the spirit of the ‘ease of doing business’,” he told this reporter.

“Had the DC notification been implemented, it would have caused consumption of four to five months for approval of a building plan,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021