Daily Times

LAHORE: Following the blast near the Arfa Karim IT Tower, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Monday suspended its ongoing operation at Kot Lakhpat Vegetable Market to retrieve land from “squatters” leaving several half-demolished buildings in dangerous condition, which might lead to any untoward incident.

Several multi-storey buildings could be seen half-demolished at the site of the blast after the suspension of the operation by the authority. Moreover, the area was also not cordoned off during the operation.

Loads of people rushed to the blast site to witness the rescue operation but no official of the authority was present to inform the people about the pace of the ongoing operation.

Talking to Daily Times, residents of the area were of the view that the authority was least concerned about the lives of the people.

They said that the LDA should have adopted safety measures to prevent locals from entering the premises. “The LDA should have cordoned off the area by placing tents to stop the general public for entering the premises of the ongoing operation.”

However, LDA Chief Engineer Israr Saeed Monday told Daily Times that the operation would be started again after seeking permission from police and other security agencies.

“We will cordon off the area in the next phase of the operation which will start soon,” he said, adding that the operation was suspended after the blast.

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2017.