LAHORE - The city district administration on Saturday retrieved six kanal state land worth million of rupees from land grabbers here at Mohlanwal, Defence road. According to DC Office spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Raiwind Adnan Rashid along with his team took action against land grabbers and demolished illegal construction on govt land.  Deputy Commissioner Lahore Mudassar Riaz said that illegal occupation of government land was not allowed at all. He said that district administration would continue proceedings against land grabbers.

  LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) stopped on Thursday construction at housing societies built on green land areas in Lahore, reported ARY News. A single bench comprising LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan heard a petition filed by a citizen, Mubbashir Almas against construction of 557 housing societies on green land areas and greenbelts. The court directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general and vice chairman to appear before it along with the relevant record and called for keeping the amnesty scheme on hold. A LDA counsel stated that the authority couldn’t take action against societies that have obtained stay orders from courts. At this, the chief justice snapped whenever the authorities intend to take action, they don’t even await a court order. The hearing was adjourned until Feb 2. At a previous hearing, the LDA counsel had told the court that notices have been issued to the housing societies constructed on green land areas and the societies have been pre

LAHORE - The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has sought approval of the mechanism for allotment of 4,000 apartments, to be constructed under the first phase of the LDA City Naya Pakistan project from the Punjab Cabinet. It was stated by LDA Vice-Chairman SM Imran while presiding over the first meeting of 2021 of LDA governing body, here at LDA office on Tuesday. LDA Director General Ahmed Aziz Tarar briefed the participants about the agenda items and compliance status of the previous meeting. During the meeting, it was decided to place a summary before the Chief Minister Punjab in which the government would be requested for determining the price of a unit, eligibility criteria for prospective purchasers as well as terms and conditions for allotment of apartments. The meeting approved draft of the agreement between LDA and Bank of Punjab (BoP) for issuance of Letter of Comfort by the bank to the prospective allottees, extending loan facility to them for purchasing apartments and tran

  Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Town Planning Wing Zone-II squad on Thursday demolished various structures here LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2021 ) : Lahore  Development Authority (LDA) Town Planning Wing Zone-II squad on Thursday demolished various structures here. According to LDA spokesperson here,the authority raided at various areas including Sabazazar scheme, Azam Garden and Allama Iqbal Town and demolished an illegal structure partially in Block E Sabazazar scheme, various illegal shops in Murghazar colony. The team also demolished illegal construction at plot number 81, Chanab block Allama Iqbal Town and sealed five houses over violation of approved map by LDA.

Renowned Pakistani industrialist and social figure Seth Abid Hussain passed away in Karachi on Friday, family sources have confirmed. The 85-year-old, who was one of Pakistan’s first richest persons, died after a short battle with an illness. His funeral prayers will be offered today after Asr prayers in Karachi at Hafiz Ayaz Mosque in Phase 2, DHA. Abid hailed from Kasur and his father was a big name in Karachi’s Sarafa Market. He was said to be among the 30 richest persons of the country. Besides running various businesses successfully, he had also launched various charity projects. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar expressed grief over the death of businessman and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

Increase in Global Coal and Scrap Prices puts pressure on Local Rates Prices of basic material - steel and cement - for the   construction   industry are expected to remain high across the country following the extension of incentives by the government. Pakistan’s cement sales in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020-21 touched an all-time high of 15.1 million tons, up 11% quarter-on-quarter as well as year-on-year, according to a report of Topline Securities. In the first half of FY21, cement sales rose 16% year-on-year to 28.6 million tons, it revealed. “Cement prices will register a further hike as capacity utilisation is increasing robustly,” Topline Securities’ Deputy Head of Research Shankar Talreja told The Express Tribune. “The power to influence prices is with manufacturers at present.” Industry utilisation based on total sales came in at 91%, adjusted for closed capacities, in the second quarter (Oct-Dec) of FY21. Based on just local sales, the utilisation stood at around 77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday completed cross-examination of five witnesses in Ashiana housing scam case, ARY News reported. The hearing was conducted by the judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry. The accountability court summoned more witnesses of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the case and adjourned further hearing until January 14. It may be noted here that the court had earlier given exemption to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and another accused Fawad Hasan Fawad from personal appearance in the hearing . The court has extended the judicial remand of accused Ahad Cheema and co-accused Shahid Shafiq. On November 25 last year, the Supreme Court had granted bail to the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) former director general Ahad Cheema and co-accused Shahid Shafiq in a case related to the Ashiana Housing Scheme case. Ahad Cheema  is facing multiple cases including the Ashiana Housing Scheme scam involving Pakistan Muslim League-Naw

  Seventeen officers of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) who were nominated in FIRs in connection with illegal constructions are still occupying important posts in the Authority. It was reported that the Anti-Corruption Department registered a case two years ago against these LDA officers involved in construction of 55 illegal commercial buildings. The Anti-Corruption Establishment has completed judicial action preparations against the officers as the anti-graft body once again recorded statements of 41 nominated officers.  A case has been registered against LDA officers named in FIR for constructing 55 buildings with their connivance in different areas including Johar Town, Allama Iqbal Town and Gulberg and on Canal Road. It has been reported that the anti-corruption team will arrest the officers nominated in the FIR after completion of the judicial action. According to FIRs, LDA officers facilitated illegal construction of floor of Al-Nasr Lab in Johar Town, car showrooms construct

  LAHORE : Lahore Development Authority (LDA) reclaimed 15 plots worth millions of rupees here on Tuesday. Officials said the operation was carried out on the direction of LDA DG Ahmed Aziz Tarar. They said staff of the Estate Management Directorates I & II reclaimed 15 plots worth millions of rupees during separate operations in Johar Town and Mustafa Town schemes. In Johar Town, the LDA staff retrieved possession of plot No 235, Block E-1, after it had been canceled by the Commission for Bonafide purchasers. A single storey house had been constructed at this plot by the occupants. The LDA staff evicted the residents and sealed the house and took over its possession. A commercial plot No. 84 R-1, situated on Main Road Johar Town had also been canceled. The service station set up of the plot was demolished during the operation and its possession was taken over by LDA. The staff also thwarted the attempt to occupy plot No. 374F-1, measuring seven marlas and demolished the structures

 

  LAHORE: Cement sales – local and exports – surged around 16 percent to 28.6 million tons in the first half of the current fiscal year of 2020/21 as demand in domestic market accelerated due to the attractive incentives announced by the government for the construction sector, industry data showed on Monday. Total cement dispatches stood at 24.8 million tons in the corresponding period a year earlier. Local sales increased 15.9 percent to 23.6 million tons. Exports increased from 4.2 million tons to 5 million tons, showing a growth of 14.6 percent. Government announced tax amnesty for the construction sector to compensate economic losses caused by coronavirus-led lockdown. Analysts are expecting further growth in cement sales if cost of production is brought down. Coal prices increased almost $35 per ton during the last six months, said a spokesman of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). “Duty and taxes on cement sector are also very high,” he said. Cement is subj

  The civil society has praised Lahore High Court’s decision to stop the construction on the government’s Ravi riverfront project until an environmental study is carried out. In a statement released Monday, the signatories, which included lawyers and environmental activists in Lahore, stated that the right to a clean and healthy environment is the fundamental right of every Pakistani individual. “The Lahore High Court Order has ensured our rights as citizens are properly considered, and the rights of the environment respected,” it added. On December 30, the court passed an order restraining the state-run Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) from commencing work on the Ravi Riverfront Development Project until an environmental impact assessment of the project is carried out. The Ravi Riverfront The project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan late last year, will include urban development along the 33 km long stretch on both sides of the Ravi river. In what is being described as

Eminent economist Dr Ikramul Haq and former finance minister Dr Miftah Ismail have said that the government’s tax amnesty scheme for construction sector will divert business from one sector to another and wealthy people will be the real beneficiaries of the scheme as they invest in real estate to whiten their untaxed money. Both the economists while sharing their views on different tax amnesty schemes given in the recent past and announcement made by Prime Minister Imran Khan to extend construction amnesty scheme, respectively, said continuous amnesty will lead to tax evasion and a long-term tax holiday would have been more beneficial than just extending the same thing again and again. “Critics say that in Pakistan, most wealthy people invest in real estate and construction to whiten their ill-gotten and/or untaxed money and therefore, they will be the real beneficiaries,”Dr Haq noted. He maintained that the “wizards sitting in Ministry of Finance and FBR have failed to realise that lo

 

 

  LAHORE - The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Town Planning Wing Zone-V squad Friday sealed various buildings due to illegal commercial use here at Defence Road and Raiwind Road. According to an LDA spokesperson, the Authority sealed a college on plot number 58, girls hostel on plot number 82 and tile store and offices on plot number 1 to 15 at Chinar Courts due to illegal commercial use. The LDA also sealed five buildings in Sultan Town and five buildings in West Wood Colony due to illegal commercial use. During the operation, police officials were also present.

  One lucky break the government got in reviving the economy due to covid-19 is getting permission from the IMF on introducing a construction amnesty scheme and fixed tax regime (FTR). The scheme was supposed to expire yesterday. But the builders and developers’ community wanted some extension. They got it. Yesterday, the PM announced the extension of no-questions-asked on the source of income (Section 111) by six months to end on 30th June 2021. The FTR is extended for 12 months - till the end of 2021. The scheme came in midst of the pandemic and the time period was short given the long approval processes where provinces, federal and other regulatory bodies are involved. The process was expedited by October. To date, Rs186 billion worth of projects are registered with the FBR – a higher amount is in draft and approval stages. According to ABAD, a much higher number of projects have the potential to come in the next six months – mainly in Sindh; they claim that the overall worth of inv