The Punjab government has issued a notification to include the regional plan for Lahore Division and the master plans for the major urban settlements within the division in the new master plan. This includes the newly-planned northern area within the district of Sheikhupura, established to accommodate the growing population of the district of Lahore.
In addition, the plans and policies of other authorities, such as the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), Punjab Central Business Districts Development Authority (PCBDA), and Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), have also been incorporated into the new master plan.
According to the notification, the revised plan includes the following requirements and suggestions:
A new city centre in Gulberg is proposed in the plan, which includes details of the city’s future growth/expansion, settlement, and plans.
The notification includes a regional plan of the Lahore Division as well as master plans for major urban settlements within the division.
20% of the area in new residential zones/areas for the Lahore district will be reserved for open spaces.
An environment betterment fee of PKR 100,000 per kanal will be charged for new projects proposed.
A regional ring road and a parallel rail network have been suggested, as well as a rainwater collection technology for future housing developments.
The new master plan will take effect on January 1, to be reviewed in 2030 and 2040, and will supersede all previous master plans, outline development plans, structure plans, and site development plans.
It is important to note that the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Parvez Elahi presided over the governing body meeting of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on December 21, which approved the plan under the LDA Act 1975 and LDA Master Plan Rules 2014. The Lahore Master Plan is the first ever for any city in Pakistan after Islamabad.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
