Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: Acting on the directives of Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing has intensified its operation against illegally commercialized buildings and properties defaulting on commercialization fees.

During a large-scale enforcement drive carried out on Tuesday, LDA teams sealed 105 properties in various housing schemes and LDA-controlled areas.

The operation covered Gulberg, Faisal Town, Gulshan Ravi, Canal Road, Poonch Road, Mustafa Town and Azam Town. According to the LDA spokesperson, 31 properties in Gulberg and Faisal Town were sealed for unauthorized commercial use.

Another 53 properties located in Gulshan Ravi, Canal Road and Poonch Road were sealed for illegal commercial activities and non-payment of commercialization fees. Meanwhile, 21 properties in Mustafa Town and Azam Garden were sealed during a recovery operation against fee defaulters.

The sealed properties included private schools, bakeries, beauty salons, hardware stores, marble and building material outlets, caf©s, restaurants, food points, pharmacies, grocery and electrical stores, real estate offices, clinics, auto workshops, shops and offices.

The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner-I Asad Uz Zaman. The LDA said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial establishments and commercialization fee defaulters will continue.

Lahore: Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz on Wednesday visited Nishtar Tehsil to review cleanliness arrangements, desilting operations and overall administrative affairs. He directed the authorities concerned to immediately clear all garbage points and ensure prompt drainage of stagnant rainwater from low-lying areas.

During the visit, the DC inspected Gajju Mata, Halloki and adjoining localities to assess the ongoing sanitation campaign and post-rain response measures.

Chief Officer MCL Kaleem Yousaf, Assistant Commissioner Nishtar Muhammad Saleem Asi, representatives of allied departments and concerned officials of WASA accompanied him.

The DC was briefed by the Assistant Commissioner Nishtar and WASA’s Deputy Managing Director on the progress of cleanliness operations, desilting activities and administrative measures being undertaken across the tehsil.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the presence of stagnant water and waste at various locations, Muhammad Ali Ejaz directed the authorities to ensure the immediate drainage of all water ponds in Nishtar areas and remove every garbage accumulation point on an emergency basis.

He further instructed field officers to remain present on the ground and personally monitor cleanliness and desilting operations to ensure timely completion of the assigned tasks. The DC also directed all relevant departments to work in close coordination for improving administrative performance and delivering better civic services to the public. ‘The district administration is committed to ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness in every area of Lahore,’ he said, adding that he was personally monitoring all development and administrative projects to facilitate citizens and improve public service delivery.

Lahore: A meeting chaired by Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique reviewed the progress on the Punjab Development Program (PDP) at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday.

Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Special Secretary Shahid Zaman Lak also attended.

The meeting was briefed that 87 underground tanks have been completed in 51 cities under the ‘Maryam Nawaz’s Beautiful Punjab’ program, while 90 percent of 17 water storage tanks have been constructed in different cities. The meeting also considered the construction of additional tanks in cities with high rainwater pressure.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said, “Rainfall pattern has changed due to climate change, so we need to move forward keeping in mind the uncertain rainfall situation.” He said that additional water pumps and machinery will be provided for drainage.

Zeeshan Rafique said that the construction of roadside water tanks has made a significant difference in urban flooding in the cities included in the PDP compared to last year. “Due to the encouraging results, work has started on constructing additional tanks.” He said that dewatering of tanks is being done in places where drains have not been constructed yet. “Dewatering the tanks will help in the drainage of rainwater again”, he figured out.

On this occasion, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian said that in light of the alert of the new spell of rains, excavation in PDP schemes has been stopped immediately. He directed that effective safety and security arrangements should be ensured at the excavation sites.

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol has urged the federal government, the Ministry of Interior, and relevant authorities to take practical steps to further improve passenger facilities, traffic flow, and administrative arrangements at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.

He, however, appreciated the efforts of the Federal Interior Minister and the airport administration, saying that significant improvements have been made over the past few years in airport management, security systems, and passenger services. These improvements have benefited citizens and helped project a positive image of Pakistan.

He said in a media statement here Wednesday that the increasing number of international flights, especially between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., has led to heavy congestion in the airport’s departure area. Under the current situation, there is only one drop-off lane, which causes passengers to face long delays. This not only wastes time but also increases the risk of passengers missing their flights.

The LCCI President suggested the construction of additional drop-off lanes on the departure road to improve traffic flow and ensure that passengers can reach the airport terminal on time. He noted that major airports in developed countries successfully operate with two or three drop-off lanes, which significantly reduces traffic congestion.

Saigol also emphasized the need for further improvements in the parking system. He suggested introducing a limited-time parking policy in the departure area. Under this system, vehicles would be issued a token upon entry, and a penalty would be imposed if they remain parked beyond the allowed time. According to him, this measure would discourage unnecessary parking, improve traffic flow, and increase government revenue.

Regarding security arrangements, he appreciated the services of the Airport Security Force and other relevant agencies, stating that passenger safety should remain the top priority. However, he suggested that vehicles requiring detailed inspection should be moved to a designated inspection area separate from the main queue. This would help maintain security standards while preventing unnecessary delays for other passengers.

The LCCI President said that an airport creates the first impression of any country. Tourists, investors, business visitors, and overseas Pakistanis form their initial opinion about the country based on the airport’s facilities and management. Therefore, establishing a modern, organized, and passenger-friendly airport is of national importance.

He expressed hope that the relevant authorities would seriously consider these proposals so that the performance of Lahore Airport can be further improved, passengers and airport staff can enjoy greater convenience, and Pakistan’s international image can be strengthened further.

Lahore: Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra has directed strict enforcement against businesses failing to implement the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (EIMS).

While chairing a meeting to review the Authority’s divisional performance in business registration, EIMS implementation and tax collection here Wednesday, the Chairman directed field officers to accelerate the campaign for the mandatory implementation of EIMS and intensify efforts to register new businesses and bring them into the tax net. He emphasised that broadening the tax base and ensuring compliance remain key priorities of the Authority.

The Chairman further directed that complaints regarding the issuance of fake, unauthorised or QR code-less invoices be addressed without delay and that heavy penalties be imposed on violators in accordance with the law. He warned that businesses involved in tax evasion or other violations of tax laws would remain under continuous monitoring.

He underscored that the promotion of digital tax systems is essential for enhancing transparency, improving taxpayer services and increasing provincial revenue. He stated that effective enforcement, coupled with digitalisation, is indispensable for strengthening tax administration and ensuring sustainable growth in tax collection.