Digital reforms in LDA to end corruption: minister

LAHORE: During the last two months, more than 7,500 illegal commercial activities have been included in digital mapping while more than 20,000 properties will be included in digital mapping in the current financial year.

This was revealed by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq while giving a briefing to the Provincial Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin on various matters of LDA here on Monday.

In the meeting, Director General Tahir Farooq gave a detailed briefing to the provincial minister on departmental matters. He said that in the last two months, more than 7,500 illegal commercial activities have been included in digital mapping.

More than 20,000 properties will be included in digital mapping in the current financial year. Commercialisation fee was being ensured from all properties of eight highways that were commercialised recently, he said.

The minister reviewed the steps taken to prevent illegal commercial activities. He said that no illegal commercial activities should take place on 58 commercial highways of the provincial capital.

The LDA-approved commercial properties should be issued certification under a systematic procedure, he said and directed to abolish the manual notice system in the Lahore Development Authority and issue digital notices.

Bilal Yasin directed that the scope of the internship programme and the number of interns in the Lahore Development Authority’s Town Planning Wing should be increased immediately.

He said that digital reforms in LDA would eliminate corruption and increase transparency. He said that all possible steps would be taken to ensure the protection of the people’s savings.

The provincial minister was briefed on the proposed measures to stop overselling in private housing schemes.

A briefing was given on the proposed measures in the real estate sector under Ease of Doing Business.

Meanwhile, Lahore Development Authority teams sealed 123 properties in different areas, including Gulberg, New Garden Town, Faisal Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Avenue One, Gulshan Ravi, New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, Shadman and adjoining localities.