LDA Seals Private University For Illegal Construction, Land

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Friday sealed a major private sector university near Johar Town for allegedly carrying out illegal construction and occupying the state land measuring 18 kanals and making it a part of its building plans.

An LDA team, headed by a deputy director and accompanied by police, sealed the all 11 gates (entry/exit points) of the university, warning the administration to stop constructions and refrain from opening/de-sealing the gates on its own.

“The extreme action of sealing the university (The University of Management and Technology) was the only option left with us since the administration has been in practice of carrying out illegal constructions in violation of the rules and regulations. We finally took a decision to seal it,” an LDA officer told Dawn.

The university, according to a recent report sent by the LDA to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), falls in a private housing scheme, namely Gulshan-i-Mustafa, on a land measuring 507 kanals that was already approved by LDA on Aug 4, 1980. The land of the scheme bears khasra numbers 318, 319, 320, 399, 400, 401, 415, 424, 425, 426, 428/1, 428/2/2, 428/2/1 and 429 of Mauza Ajudiapur, Lahore.

The mortgage/transfer deed of the said scheme was registered with the office of sub-registrar Iqbal Town on July 28, 1980, and the area under the open spaces, roads, public buildings, the graveyard was transferred free of charge by the sponsor in favour of the LDA. This scheme was thereafter adjusted in Johar Town.

The report reveals that the management of the UMT (formerly the Institute of Leadership Management) had applied for approval of a building plan of a boundary wall on the land measuring 124 Kanal and 19 marlas bearing Khasra No 428/2/1 and Khasra No 428/2/2, Mauza Ajudiapur in 2001. As per information of the Chief Metropolitan Planner’s cell, the Khasra No 428, Mauza Ajudiapur was already included in a private housing scheme–Gulshan-i-Mustafa Housing Scheme. Due to this reason, the building plan could not be processed/sanctioned. Accordingly, the applicant was informed vide letter of April 2001 that the said Khasra numbers fell in Gulshan-i-Mustafa Housing Scheme and the request to entertain/sanction of building plan could not be accepted.