Dozens of legal complaints (istighasa) filed by the Town Planning Directorate of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) against unauthorized constructions across nine administrative zones of the city remain unacted upon, allegedly due to systematic delays and collusion by local police stations. The situation has emboldened the building mafia, allowing them to continue flouting construction laws […]
LDA’s negligence fuels surge in illegal constructions in Lahore
A wave of illegal constructions and unregulated development is sweeping across Lahore due to gross negligence, apathy, and administrative inefficiency within the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) City Metropolitan Planning (CMP) Wing. Despite the passage of over six weeks since the merger of the Directorate of Metropolitan Planning and Housing Schemes (DMPHS) into the CMP Wing, […]
Illegal Constructions in Lahore Flourish Despite Chief Minister’s Orders
The unchecked proliferation of illegal constructions in the provincial capital has rendered the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Local Government Minister, and Secretary of Local Government ineffective. Across multiple zones, including Nishter Zone, Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone, Ravi Zone, and Shalimar Zone, unauthorized residential and commercial constructions have surged to unprecedented levels, effectively […]
Murree Master Plan to be designed for next 25 years
Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Punjab, Nabeel Javed, paid a surprise visit to Murree to review the progress on various ongoing developmental and tourism projects. Accompanied by officials from the Commissioner Rawalpindi Office, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Murree, PDMA, RDA, Building Department, Rescue 1122, Environment Department, and the Forest Department, the SMBR inspected the implementation […]
Field inspections neglected due to red-tapism and LDA mismanagement
The Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) Town Planning Department is facing criticism for gross mismanagement and negligence, as routine field inspections and the mandatory use of field books remain abandoned due to bureaucratic inefficiency. Insiders reveal that senior officials, including the Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director of Town Planning, are ignoring LDA bylaws that require […]
Ineffective system giving rise to irregularities in LDA’s drawing branch
The ineffectiveness of the monitoring system at Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) Drawing Branch has reportedly led to widespread irregularities, forcing applicants to endure delays and unnecessary hardships. Allegations of undue objections and delaying tactics have become routine, leaving citizens distressed and frustrate Sources reveal that the Drawing Branch’s alleged negligence and reliance on verbal directives […]
MCL administrator revokes ZOP appointments
The Administrator of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) has been compelled to withdraw recent appointment orders for Zonal Officers Planning (ZOP) after the Punjab Local Government Board (PLGB) declared them illegal. According to a letter issued by Secretary Local Government Board Rizwan Nazir, the appointments in Nishtar Zone and Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone involved serious […]
Historic Mall Road under threat as illegal constructions reach new heights
The historic Mall Road of Lahore, a symbol of the city’s identity and a cornerstone of Pakistan’s cultural and historical heritage, is at risk of losing its essence due to rampant illegal constructions and administrative negligence. Clear directives from the Punjab Chief Secretary and Governor have been blatantly ignored, leading to widespread public outrage. Reports […]
Audit report reveals land conversion scam
An audit report has revealed a significant financial loss of Rs. 2734.094 million to the government due to the illegal conversion of agricultural land into industrial land without proper approval. According to Rule 30(1) of the Local Government Audit Report 2023, this conversion not only disrupted the master plan but also deprived the government of […]
Understanding Faiz’s poem in the right context
In the context of the recent furor in India, there is a need to give Faiz’s poem the right context for neither is it a declaration of Islamic supremacy as some are ignorantly making it be and nor is it something Islamists would like to quote if they knew what it really was about. People […]