LDA sets up separate directorate for development works

Lahore Develop-ment Authority (LDA) has established a separate directorate for executing development works in such private housing schemes that had failed to accomplish these tasks despite lapse of long time. This was decided in the LDA Governing Body meeting held here on Monday.
The meeting also decided that plots mortgaged with LDA as guarantee for development works would be auctioned to arrange funds for this purpose. For ensuring quality of work, this directorate would also monitor the standard of ongoing development works, being carried out by the developers in private housing schemes.
New vacancies will not be created for this directorate and it will be set up without incurring additional cost. It will thus be manned by shifting staff from other directorates. The directorate will be headed by a director engineering (BS19). Officers of the rank of deputy director as well as assistant directors from the metropolitan planning wing, town planning wing, engineering and estate management directorates will also be posted in this directorate for its smooth functioning.
It is to be noted that LDA was already completing the long overdue development works in Venus Housing Schemes, by auctioning mortgaged plots, on the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It has also initiated preliminary proceedings for taking over possession of mortgaged plots in 21 private housing schemes in the city and subsequently selling them through open auction for executing development works in these neighbourhoods, as their developers had failed to complete development works in these colonies, despite elapse of period specified for the purpose.
The meeting, chaired by District Co-ordination Officer and LDA Chairman Ahad Khan Cheema, was attended by LDA Director General Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, Wasa Managing Director Dr Javed Iqbal, Additional Director General (HQ) Hafiz Ihsan-ul-Haque, TEPA Chief Engineer Saif Ur Rahman, LDA Chief Engineer Asrar Saeed and representatives of the provincial local government, Housing, P&D and finance departments besides administrators of the nine constituent towns of the CDL, disclosed an official.