The LDA Checklist: Your Guide To Safe And Successful Investment In Lahore

Due to the emergence of many new private housing societies over the past decade, the bustling metropolis of Lahore now offers an even wider range of property investment opportunities. So, if you are also interested in exploring the real estate of Lahore, but don’t know exactly where to invest your hard-earned money, then Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has got you covered. In fact, there’s an entire LDA checklist for investors that particularly warns and guides you regarding certain parameters to help you judge if a real estate investment opportunity is worth your time and, of course, money.

About Lahore Development Authority (LDA)

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is an independent legal entity responsible for planning and overseeing the projects focusing on urban development in the city. It also approves, issues permits and regulates every new construction, housing project, stand-alone residential unit and commercial development. The authority also works side by side with Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to improve and maintain green belts and parks in Lahore. 

LDA Checklist for Property Buyers

As we already mentioned, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has come out with a detailed checklist to facilitate property buyers in Lahore as well as other cities of Punjab that come within its jurisdiction like Sheikhupura and Kasur. It’s more like a set of instructions that every property investor need to carefully take a look at before signing any document. So, let’s begin with the checklist by LDA for investors.

• Check and verify NOC approval as well as the approved master plan/map of the housing society from a relevant authority.
• Be aware about the total count of plots categorized into different types like commercial, residential, etc.
• Fetch details like numbers and blocks of the 20% of the total plots that have been given in LDA’s possession on a temporary basis (for a predefined period) as per rules and regulations. 
• Make sure that the plot you intend to purchase hasn’t already been mortgage.
• Check whether your plot is a part of the approved scheme plan or not.
• Be sure that the piece of land you intend to buy doesn’t fall under the area that has been specified for the construction of public places such as parks, masjids, graveyards, or community centres. 
• Also make sure that the housing society where your property is situated is not facing any litigation issues with any of the concerned legal institutions such as Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Some Additional Precautionary Steps for You To Take As A Property Buyer in Lahore

In addition to the aforementioned checklist by LDA for investors, here are some additional precautionary measures that you should take as a property buyer in Lahore just to be extra careful.

• Property buyers are advised not to get picked up by any flashy advertising campaign that usually come out with the launch of every new housing society. Instead, their property investment decision should be backed by thorough research and verification of details like scheme approval and identification of the housing project’s stakeholders.
• Before proceeding with your property investment, it is recommended for you to visit the site of your property to verify the details about the project that have been communicated to you through different communication channels.
• Property Investors should also check the availability status of the utilities like water and gas supply, telephone connection and electricity.
• Get details about the progress of development of the society and its completion status. 
• Check if there are any additional development charges that are usually not mentioned in the first place by the property developers as a general practice other than the communicated payment plan.
• Usually pay order and bank draft are the most recommended payment modes. 

Who to Get in Touch With for More Information?

In case you need any further confirmation regarding a particular housing society where you want to put in your investment, then you can use the following contact details of the directors working with LDA:

• Director Metropolitan Planning for Lahore Zone I (Thokar Niaz Baig, Chohang, Mohlanwal, UBD Canal, Jalo Mor, Manawan, Thari Road, Sundar, Raiwind Road, Manga, Bahria Town) can be reached at:
  • +92-42-9926-2317
  • +92-322-888-8247

• Director Metropolitan Planning Lahore Zone II (Ferozepur Road, Defence Road, Barki Road, Sua-e-Asil Road, Raiwind Road, Bahria Town) is available at:
  • +92-42-9926-2392
  • +92-322-888-8497

• Director Metropolitan Planning Lahore Zone III (District Sheikhupura, District Nankana Sahib) is available at:
  • +92-42-9926-2380
  • +92-322-888-8074

• For confirmation of plots housing societies mortgage with the respective administrative body, amenity plots and land reserved for parks, masjid, school etc., get in touch with Director Estate Management at:
  • +92-42-9926-2328
  • +92-322-888-8241

We hope that the LDA checklist for investors discussed in this blog will effectively help you make an informed decision regarding your property investment. Please feel free to get in touch with us at blog@zameen.com, if you have any further queries or suggestions.

On a side note, if you are interested in knowing about the new laws introduced for the construction of tall buildings in Lahore, then read one of our previous pieces on the recent amendments undertaken by LDA in its regulations to favour high rises in the city.

To read more informative pieces on construction rules and regulations laid down by development authorities operating in cities across Pakistan, head over to Zameen Blog, Pakistan’s best real estate blog. 

*Logo on the cover has been sourced from Lahore Development Authority’s official website.