LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Commercialisation Directorate has sealed 1,150 properties, registered FIRs against 65 people and generated revenue of Rs 2.75 billion during 2017. The Town Planning Wing of LDA also demolished 600 illegal building constructions and sealed more than 300 premises, including 160 wedding halls, on the violation of building bylaws and other issues during crackdown held against them in various residential schemes and controlled areas. LDA said that the Commercialisation Directorate generated collectively Rs 2.15 billion revenue. Rs 1 billion was received in the form of permanent commercialisation building fees and the remaining Rs 770 million was received under the head of annual/temporary commercialisation fee. A total of 54,954 applications on various issues were submitted in One Window Cell. Out of these, 51,966 applications were settled. An average of 140 applications was settled daily out of the 150 applications received. Out of the 3,823 applications, 3,517 were for granting no objection certificates (NOCs). A total of 3,283 applications were received for issuance of transfer letters. An LDA spokesperson said that other applications pertained to allocation letters, allotment of plots, issuance of attested copy of challans, balance dues, change of plots, checking of file, construction of duplicate files, building period extension challan, correction/amendment, court orders, duplicate papers challan, excess area challan, issuance of building period extension, exemption approval, exemption challan, exemption letter, final demand notice, gift transfer, legal heirs, lien marking, NOC challan, PTM issuance, physical possession, NOC issuance, placement of documents challan, placement of documents issue, possession order , publication challan, publication issue, release of mortgaged plots, urgent transfer challan, urgent transfer issue reminder, reply to notice, site plan, stay order, sub division challan, sub division issue, and verification of documents. He further said that the LDA had taken action against 93 residential schemes in Lahore division. He further said that a project for canal road widening from Thokar Niaz Baig to Doctors’ Hospital and Upper to Harbanspura were completed at a total cost of Rs 7 billion. A sum of Rs 500 million had been spent on a construction of Gurumangat Road Railway Crossing Gulberg. Published in Daily Times, January 1st 2018.