LAHORE
Continuing the fresh wave of unauthorised commercialisation in Model Town, a plan has been finalised for converting a public park measuring 55 kanals into a commercial plaza in sheer violation of the building by-laws mentioned in the Model Town Society’s master plan, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The Model Town Society (MTS) has outlined the proposal to covert the park located in J-Block into a commercial plaza and decided to present the plan in the annual general meeting of the society on October 31. A MTS official told Pakistan Today that the plan had been finalised and presenting it in the meeting was just an eyewash.
He said that if the project was executed, it would result in conversion of a second park after a public park located in G-Block was illegally commercialised into a Makro superstore. J-Block Welfare Society Incharge Mazhar Ali Khan said the public park had mango trees, seasonal flowers and lush green fields.
The park, located in front of the Nawaz Sharif Park, was regularly visited by families for recreation. According to J-Block residents, the park protected the area from noise and air pollution caused by smoke-emitting vehicles on the Ferozpur Road.
“It will be a real disaster if the park is converted into a commercial plaza. As the J-Block is located near the Main Ferozpur Road and vehicles coming from the Model Town Morr enter the block, any commercial activity would cause traffic problems,” said Mazhar, a resident of J Block.
Mazhar flayed the MTS administration for trying to damage the peaceful environment of the society, adding that the plan would provide more chances for illegal commercialisation. He said that Model Town residents would stage a demonstration during the MTS meeting to protest against the threat to the society’s environment.
Model Town Resident Association President Amir Azam said that a letter would be issued to the MTS management asking them to withdraw the decision or face the music. He said some MTS high-ups were a ‘mafia’ trying to erode Model Town’s land. Azam said that the commercialisation plan would turn the central road from the Model Town Morr to the main roundabout into a traffic gridlock.
“Usually a plan is prepared for commercial initiatives that would help to generate revenue. But on the other hand, non-development expenditures on luxuries and oversized staff are on the rise. This shows gross mismanagement to drain all the available resources,” he said.
Mateen Ahmed Rana, a MTS member said that Model Town, developed in 1921 and registered under the Cooperative Societies Act 1912, had promised to provide ideal residential facilities. He said that unauthorized commercialisation mushroomed forcing the people to quit the area for better residential places.
MTS Vice President Dr Tanveerul Hassan Zubairi said that according to the master plan, 55 kanals land were not allocated for the park. He said that the area was in use for nurseries which have been removed recently. Zubairi said that the society had a plan to build a commercial plaza to earn revenue for the society’s welfare.
MTS President Colonel (r) Tahir Kardar said that Model Town, spreading over 1463 acres, had allocated only 29 acres for commercial purposes that included central roundabouts and small markets in each block. Except the designated lands, no one was allowed to commercialise the houses under the Commercialisation Policy 2002, he added.
Kardar said that the number of offices standing at 270 had been reduced to 103 since 2005 and hoped that the number would be reduced more.
