Lahore: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has introduced a revised policy aimed at providing relief to property owners facing penalties related to access area discrepancies.
Under the new framework, penalties will now be calculated on the basis of property rates applicable at the time of plot allotment, instead of the prevailing Deputy Commissioner (DC) rates. The change is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on affected plot owners.
According to officials, the policy was developed after detailed deliberations by the Director General of LDA and the Additional Director General (Housing), in response to long-standing public concerns over excessive charges.
Previously, penalties in cases involving access area differences—often linked with No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and property transfer processes—were calculated using current market-based rates. This approach frequently resulted in higher costs for property owners, including in situations where they disputed responsibility for the discrepancies.
Citizens had repeatedly raised concerns over what they described as undue financial pressure during NOC issuance and transfer procedures due to these additional charges.
Under the revised policy, whether the access area is found to be excess or short, charges will be determined using the rates from the year of allotment, replacing the earlier system based on present-day valuations.
The policy has been approved by the LDA Governing Body, and official minutes have been issued, clearing the way for its implementation across relevant cases.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
