Lahore: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is set to launch a sustainable development program for the Gulberg area, with an estimated budget of PKR 3.306 billion, as reported on October 14.
As per details, this initiative, aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is expected to be completed within six months. During a recent LDA governing body meeting, the project received official approval. The working paper emphasised that Lahore, as Pakistan’s second-largest city and the provincial capital of Punjab, faces immense challenges in managing rapid urbanisation while ensuring sustainable growth.
The LDA’s sustainable cities and communities development initiative aims to improve the livability, sustainability, and resilience of Lahore’s urban infrastructure. The focus will be on Gulberg, an area heavily impacted by environmental degradation and smog due to widespread commercial activity and high-rise constructions. Since its reclassification in 2012, Gulberg has seen extensive development, transforming into a key revenue generator through land-use changes and the approval of commercial and residential high-rise buildings.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, in an interview, outlined key features of the project, including the creation of green spaces and roadside plantations, pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, and the installation of categorized recycling and waste bins. Additional eco-friendly measures include solar-powered streetlights, roadside vending points, rainwater harvesting wells, tactile paving for individuals with disabilities, and repairs to broken streets using asphalt/PCC. Traffic and pedestrian safety furniture will also be installed to enhance road safety.
Farooq explained that the proposal was presented to the LDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) in its meeting on August 5, 2024. The DWP recommended the project for approval by the governing body, which subsequently allocated PKR 3.306 billion for the initiative from the fiscal year 2024-25 budget under the ‘Sustainable Development Growth Programme in Lahore City.’ The project will be fully funded by the LDA, with no additional financial requests made to the Punjab government. Work will commence once all required procedural and formal approvals are obtained.
