LAHORE: A policy of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to allow construction of high-rise buildings and commercial activities in the frozen zones of the city looks flawed, haphazard and unlikely to achieve the revenue objectives.

The LDA governing body in February 2022 had approved a plan to boost commercial activities on 10 roads of the city by allowing construction of high-rises along them. The government had introduced an amendment to the LDA’s Building and Zoning Regulations-2019, under which the restrictions on the buildings’ height were removed, allowing construction of skyscrapers in the high-end zones of Lahore. The roads where high rises without any height limit were introduced were Burki Road, Raiwind Road, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Johar Town Bypass Road, Raiwind Road, Defense Road, Multan Road, PIA Road, Zafar Ali Road and Canal Road.

According to a presentation given to the chief minister recently by the LDA town planning and commercialisation, a copy available with Dawn, the authority expects Rs6.9bn revenue from reclassification of these frozen zones. According to its estimates, it will earn Rs288m from 129 properties on Burki Road, Rs2.79bn from 635 properties on the Raiwind Road and Rs640m from 27 properties on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Rs590m from 71 properties on Johar Town Bypass Road, Rs1.49bn from 292 properties on Khayaban-e-Jinnah Road, Rs1.45bn from 331 properties on Defence Road and Rs900m from 91 properties on Abul Hassan Isphani Road after allowing construction of commercial buildings there.

The authority had banned commercial activities in different zones of the city and had declared some zones as frozen in 2011. No commercial activities were allowed in the frozen zones; however, despite the ban such activities continued due to alleged corruption in the LDA. The illegal commercial activities went on in different areas of the city, including the frozen zones during the last 10 years and 2,677 commercial properties were established in the frozen zones in violation of the ban on commercialisation.

Sources have alleged that the LDA planning and development department officials were involved in minting money and had allowed the commercial activities in the frozen zone. They say now that the authorities have convinced the government to lift the commercialisation ban on the 10 major roads in the frozen zone, there are already hundreds of commercial buildings constructed along the roads illegally. The sources allege that the officers of the Town Planning Department are only focusing on making hundreds of illegal commercial buildings legal, which were constructed in the frozen zone, violating the rules. In the presence of such buildings, they say, even half of the estimated revenue (Rs6.9bn) would not be earned. The sources think that the illegal commercialisation in frozen zones during the last one decade will decrease the revenue of the LDA.

On the other hand, there are other stakeholders who object to the basic commercialisation policy of the LDA. Talking to Dawn, Lahore Conservation Society Information Secretary Dr Ajaz Anwar says the idea of high rises and commercialisation of roads will play havoc with the city life. He says the ‘city of gardens’ has already become warmer and the new high rises and commercialisation policy will stop fresh air, sunlight and a peaceful and healthy environment for the citizens. He says the LDA officials, who suggest such policies, are only making money and the government representatives, who approve these policies, don’t know about the ground realities of the city.

Mr Anwar says the authority is devising the Lahore Master Plan without knowing and conducting any research about the character of the city.

“The LDA officials are relaxing rules for commercial purposes to only focus on minting money,” Anwar alleges.

He argues that the high rises in some areas of the Gulberg Main Boulevard and Regal Chowk are creating problems for the residents because of the lack of parking spaces.

“Establishing parking spaces in the basement would be like taking driving tests from the citizens while the basements would also turn into shops soon,” he predicts.

According to the new regulations, the apartment buildings can be allowed in the designated sites of approved private and public sector schemes and other areas. The owner of a 10 marla plot and less than one kanal is allowed a shop measuring 400 feet at the ground floor and the height of building at one kanal and less than two kanals is allowed 90 feet (ground plus six floors). The new regulations allow up to 120 feet height (ground plus nine floors) at two to four kanals plots. The plots measuring four to eight kanals can be used for construction of buildings up to 200 feet height (ground plus 14 floors). The plots of eight kanals but less than 12 kanals can be utilised for the buildings of 300 feet height. Over 300 feet high buildings can be built at the plots measuring 12 kanals or above, subject to provision of a no-objection certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The regulations state that the constructions are allowed on the roads, measuring 30 feet to 80 feet wide. Buildings have been categorised as low, medium, high rise and skyscrapers. The parking in the setback areas and mandatory spaces will not be allowed and the spaces will be used for pedestrian walkways or green spaces.

LDA Chief Town Planner (CTP) Tahir Mayo says that the terms of reference (ToRs) have already been mentioned in the approval of commercial activities on the said roads and the authority will implement it. He says action will also be taken against the officials involved in illegally allowing the construction of commercial activities during the ban on commercialisation on these roads. He says they will also be checking of the buildings during the implementation of the new rules while action will be taken over violations of the rules. He informs Dawn there are several court cases on these illegal constructions and action will also be taken on directions of courts.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2022