The LDA Master Plan for 2050 is being reviewed afresh after directions from the Lahore High Court, with the planning exercise now extending beyond the core city to include major surrounding and special development areas in Lahore Division.
The Lahore Development Authority Governing Body met under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman Mian Marghoob Ahmad, where Director General Tahir Farooq briefed members on the progress of the long-term plan. Representatives of Dar Al-Handasah, the international consultant firm working on the document, presented revised planning and zoning proposals aimed at guiding Lahore’s future growth.
Officials said the updated LDA Master Plan is being shaped for Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib, taking into account population increase, urban expansion and the demand for housing. The discussion also covered the need to balance development with public transport, pedestrian access, green spaces, heritage protection and water resource management.
Environmental pressures formed a major part of the briefing, with smog, unchecked industrial expansion and wider socio-economic challenges included in the planning review. The governing body directed that public consultation and the Environment Department’s recommendations be incorporated before the revised plan is finalised.
Members were also informed that high-rise commercial and residential construction would be encouraged to meet future urban needs. In addition, planning for Ravi Urban Development Authority areas, the Central Business District, cantonment zones and the Defence Housing Authority will be integrated into the LDA Master Plan to ensure a broader and more coordinated development framework.
The Urban Unit and WWF are serving as external reviewers, and their input will be added to the final draft. Officials said this approach is meant to strengthen the planning process and make the master plan more responsive to legal, environmental and urban realities.
Another briefing covered the Housing Society Management System, where private housing schemes have been asked to shift their records to the PELRA software by June 30. Authorities said technical concerns are being addressed in consultation with developers and other stakeholders.
The meeting also approved amendments to the policy framework and standard operating procedures covering the lease, sale and land use of public utility sites, reflecting the wider effort to streamline urban governance in Lahore.
