LAHORE – In order to accommodate District Management Group (DMG) officers on deputation, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has resorted to restructuring the Directorate of Estate Management once again to take action against land grabbers, demolish illegal buildings, retrieve lands from illegal possession, sign agreements for sale of all types of plots and grant extensions in building periods, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The restructuring comes at a critical time when Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif’s anti-encroachments drive is moving at a feverish pace, a senior LDA official told Pakistan Today. In the name of re-organisation and resizing the Directorate of Estate Management, a very sensitive wing due to its tasks and present job in the anti-encroachment drive, the LDA had made a third time alteration in its basic structure, he said. The official said that LDA had already resized it by breaking into two and later merging into one department to adjust DMG officers on deputation since 2009.
He said that two days ago, LDA again reshaped the Directorate of Estate Management by severing it into two parts naming them the Directorate of Estate Management I and Directorate of Estate Management II to create space for DMG officer Fazalur Rehman, who was recently transferred from the Punjab Auqaf department. Now, Fazal will head the Directorate of Estate Management II and Nauman Ahmed Khan will head the Directorate of Estate Management II. According to data available with Pakistan Today, former LDA director general (DG) Shahid Mehmood had segregated the directorate into two parts including the Estate Management Directorate I and Estate Management Directorate II in January 2009.
Afterwards, former LDA DG Umer Rasool abolished the Directorate of Estate Management II through order NO LDA / ADMN/ PS1061 in 2010 while the Directorate of Estate Management I remained functional. He posted Qasir Saleem, his favourite officer, who was on depuration in the authority. After new LDA DG Abdul Jabbar Shaheen assumed the charge, Saleem quit the slot.
To accommodate another officer on deputation, Shaheen again separated the Directorate of Estate Management and created the Directorate of Estate Management I and Directorate of Estate Management II. A senior LDA official told Pakistan Today that the estate management directorates was originally designed to sign agreements for sale of all types of plots in accordance with the introductions, orders and policy in force, from time to time.
The official explained that it had the power to sign agreements for sale and lease of shops, petrol pump sites and other properties, in accordance with the instructions, order and policy enforce, from time to time and to sign sale deeds in respect of shops, and plots in accordance with the instructions, orders and policy in force.
“The directorates are authorised to grant extensions in building periods, on payment of prescribed surcharge, in accordance with the instructions, orders and policy, to cancel the sale of any plot, shop or other property for violation of any term or condition the agreement in respect of such plot, shop or property, and to forfeit the whole or part of the earnest money to receive the sale of any plot, shop or other properties and to permit extensions in the period for payment,” he added.
Around 47 housing schemes were handed over to both the directorates and separate directors. Initially, the Directorate of Estate Management I was housed in newly-constructed building of LDA located in Johar Town and Ahmed Aziz Tarar was posted as its director. Directorate of Estate Management II was placed at the LDA Complex Court Street. Recently it was shifted to LDA Plaza Egerton road. Farqaleet Mir took the helm of affairs in the directorate.
Directorate of Estate Management I was tasked to cover housing schemes including Johar Town, Shah Jamal Scheme, Upper Mall Scheme, Gulberg Scheme, Muslim Town Scheme, New Garden Town Scheme, Allama Iqbal Town, Faisal Town, Mohlanwal Scheme, Model Town Extension, Mustafa Town, Nawab Town, Saint Marry Park, Fruit and Vegetable Market Allama Iqbal Town, Fruit and Vegetable Market Ferozepure Road. It was also authorised to look after the affairs of LDA flats and quarters and other property given on lease.
Directorate of Estate Management II was tasked to manage the affairs of housing schemes including Gujjarpura Scheme, Tajpura Scheme, Chuburji Scheme, Islamia Park, Raj Garh, Egerton Road, Shah Alam Market, Qila Laskhman Singh, Sabzazar Housing Scheme, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, Do Moriya Pull, Fazliya Colony, Purani Riffal Range, Garhi Shahu, Kabari Market, Montgomery Road, Patiala Wakeel Khana, Railway Station, Shadman, Shadbagh, Baghbanpura, Timber Market, Aariya Nagar, Data Nagar and Tollinton Market. D-Point Parking Plaza, Rang Mahal, Akbari Mandi and Fruit and Vegetable Market Ravi Link Road were also given under its control.
It was also powered to care for LDA lease lands, flats and quarters. Both the directorates were also authorised for administering the process of employees’ quota and widow quota.
