Lahore: The Punjab Housing Department has directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to devise a comprehensive plan aimed at transforming Lahore into Pakistan’s first “dust-free city.”
Chairing a meeting at the LDA office on Wednesday, Provincial Secretary for Housing Noorul Amin Mengal emphasized the need for unified development standards across all departments. He said environmental sustainability would be a key focus in upcoming infrastructure and urban planning initiatives.
“All departments must adopt consistent standards for development works to ensure environmental sustainability,” Mengal stated. “Making Lahore a dust-free city will require legislative support, tighter enforcement of construction SOPs, and design regulations for commercial exteriors.”
During the meeting, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq briefed participants on ongoing and proposed development projects. He highlighted efforts to digitize land records, streamline building plan approvals, and enhance revenue collection. According to the DG, LDA recently surpassed a record PKR 25 billion in revenue and recovered 990 kanals of encroached land worth billions of rupees.
The LDA also shared updates on its plan to monitor development activity using a centralized digital monitoring unit. A team from NESPAK presented a preliminary proposal for the Yellow Line Bus Service project, which will be part of the city’s broader urban mobility upgrade.
Mengal underscored that poorly maintained and brightly colored commercial buildings compromise the city’s visual appeal. “We must pursue organized and aesthetically pleasing urban development, grounded in eco-friendly principles,” he said.
Key officials in attendance included the Special Secretary for Housing, Additional Secretary Technical, Chief Engineer LDA, Additional DGs, Chief Town Planners, and representatives from Metropolitan Planning.
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