Lahore: The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) recently announced its decision to link all relevant authorities with a one-window operation facility for the issuance of construction approvals, a news source reported on July 3.
According to sources, the different construction-related authorities in Punjab currently have no link and applicants have to consult each one separately. MCL Chief Officer Syed Ali Bukhari said that the one-window portal would link all the approving authorities. He added that upon filing the application, the portal would facilitate the concurrent processing of all approvals.
Bukhari explained that the building plan approving authority would have the responsibility of approving it within 30 days and laying down the appropriate timelines for the issuance of NOCs by all other authorities.
The official stated that the mapping would be approved in 30 working days, completion certificate would be issued in 30 working days, and land use conversions would be completed in 45 working days. He added that the portal would complete the process for private housing schemes within 60 to 75 working days.
Bukhari revealed that the under the proposed framework of the one-window portal, there would be a category-wise checklist of documents, timelines, fee structures, and helpline numbers available on the portal via a mobile app. The applicant would also receive an electronic receipt, he added. He said that they have also proposed grievance redressal committees at divisional levels.
On the status of the web portal, Bukhari said that they have provided the required information to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), which had initiated the development work. He added that a supervisory committee would also check and monitor the pace of the work and functioning of this new system.
