| Lahore: In response to the concerns raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) via a letter regarding extensive land use in different districts of Punjab, the Metropolitan Planning Wing of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has ceased the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to new housing societies within its jurisdiction, according to news published in the leading newspaper on September 20.
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The Chief Metropolitan Planner (CMP) Nadeem Akhtar Zaidi explained that this suspension of NOC issuance was in compliance with instructions from the Housing Department, which had relayed the ECP’s concerns. The letter also mentioned that the ECP’s approval is mandatory in cases of urgency. The ECP’s letter emphasized the caretaker government’s role, stating that its mandate pertains primarily to managing routine operational emergencies rather than making substantial policy decisions.
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Moreover, the ECP expressed alarm over the escalating trend of alterations in land usage initiated by the provincial government in various districts. The issuance of NOCs by deputy commissioners to multiple housing societies had begun to encroach upon vital green spaces and productive agricultural land. This unregulated expansion could lead to chaotic and unplanned urban growth and raise concerns of potential corruption in specific regions, warned the ECP |
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