LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has issued a show-cause notice to a housing scheme, launched by the Punjab University in 2015, for carrying out development unlawfully without getting approval from the authority.

“It has been observed that in violation of the cited provisions of the LDA Act-1975, you have established an illegal and unlawful housing scheme by constructing infrastructure (sewerage, roads etc) with getting approval from the competent authority. You are also advertising the scheme in print and electronic media unlawfully,” reads the notice served to the developers of the scheme. The notice directs the scheme management to immediately stop the development.

The housing project, named the Jamia Town Housing Scheme, was launched by the university around five years before. Under the plan, the land was to be transferred in the office of registrar while the financial transactions were to be made by the treasury office of the university.

Around 1,000 teachers got their plots booked but the scheme faced various issues related to approval, transfer of the land and finances in the names of those other than the designated ones, development etc.

Later, the PU officially disowned the scheme. But its affairs continued to be dealt with by the PU Academic Staff Association. “We disown this scheme situated at Mauza Jia Bagga as we only own the PU Housing Scheme-I and II,” a spokesman told Dawn.

LWMC: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Board of Directors on Friday gave a go-ahead to procure and place more than 6,000 new containers in the city on an urgent basis.

At a meeting presided over by Local Government & Community Development Department Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, the LWMC BoD emphasised on effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens of Lahore by deploying complete resources.

The participants directed the company management to deploy additional machinery including 57 dumpers, 28 excavators, 66 trolleys and 17 loaders from Monday to clear the backlog within a shortest time.

The board decided to form a vigilance team comprising 20-25 members to prevent any kind of corruption and theft. The team will work to highlight corruption or theft within the organisation. It also approved procurement of new uniforms, shoes, jackets and personal protective equipment for workers.

It further decided that transfer stations set up in the city should be vacated in time and should also be covered.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2021