100 illegal constructions identified in Wagah Town

LAHORE: Punjab Local Government and Community Development (LG&CD) department has unearthed corruption worth millions in Wagah Zone of the provincial metropolis.

As per the documents available with The News, the government exchequer suffered a loss of millions in the guise of completing construction without approved maps. These illegal buildings included dozens of commercial buildings, housing schemes, schools, plazas, and markets.

According to the inquiry report of Secretary LG&CD Mian Shakeel, illegal constructions were made with the connivance of ZOP Wagah Zone, building inspectors, surveyors and Patwaris.

It revealed that more than over 100 illegal buildings were constructed in violation of the building bylaws. The Secretary LG&CD, in separate letters, transferred ZOP Wagah Zone Iram Altaf and Building Inspector Sanabal from the Wagah Zone to the Local Government Board Office and directed them to appear before the final inquiry committee, which was constituted to proceed against them under Peda Act.

Former ZOP Amna Javed, Building Inspector Arsalan Jamil, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Tanveer, Hafiz Aqib Surveyor, who were involved in illegal constructions, have also been directed to join the inquiry.

According to the initial inquiry report, more than 100 illegal constructions have been completed within the limits of the Wagah Zone and most of these were commercial plazas, markets, banks, workshops.

The report said parking was not provided in these constructions while many commercial constructions were made without approved commercial maps and were constructed under the guise of residential plans. Violations of the master plan, violations of mandatory spaces and other construction bylaws were blatantly made, the report added.

Most of these illegal constructions were completed in the areas of GT Road, Darogha Wala, Harbanspura, Barki Road, Bilalganj Road and around Quaid-e-Azam Interchange in the Wagah Zone.

Secretary Local Government Punjab Mian Shakeel has indicated that strict legal action will be taken against officials and officers involved in illegal constructions.