LDA to launch smart cards, mobile app

Lahore: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) recently announced its decision to launch a smart card and a smartphone application in a bid to automate its business processes – under the ease-of-doing-business framework set by the World Bank (WB), a news source reported. For this purpose, the civic agency plans to collaborate with the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA).

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LDA Director General (DG) Sumair Ahmad Syed stated that property owners in LDA schemes would receive the smart cards. These utilities will allow sales and purchase of the properties in LDA’s jurisdiction – reducing the need to compile paper-based property records.

During a meeting with Board of Investment (BoI) Executive Director Farena Mazhar, the LDA DG said that the authority had also prepare an application – which would be available for download through the Google Play Store service on a timely basis. LDA has prepared this application for the approvals of building plans, he added.

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Syed revealed that LDA was simplifying multiple processes and allowing people to perform task online to fulfil the WB’s Ease-of-Doing-Business Programme. He highlighted that the LDA had shortened the building plan approval process from 19 stages to just nine steps, which had significantly cut down approval times.

The LDA DG informed the BoI executive that builders were now able to building plan approval applications through architects and town planner registered with the authority. LDA approved the building plans within 48 hours on the recommendation of these town planners, he added.

He stated that the civic agency’s one-window cell facility featured special counters of several relevant departments for the issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) under one roof to sanction the building plans of high-rise structures.

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Syed further told Mazhar that the LDA had outsourced the inspection of buildings for issuing the completion certificates. He added that the civic agency had introduced this measure in a bid to address complaints about misuse of power by the officials concerned.