City42

Illegal constructions, commercialization causing civic issues

2023-08-21T04:43:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: The provincial metropolis is facing rising urbanisation, triggering illegal construction and commercial activities causing various civic issues.

In this regard, LDA, time and again, launched drives against the menace but is seemed unstoppable, leading to adverse consequences on governance systems, the environment, people’s health, transportation services and overall well-being of citizens.

Sources in LDA’s Town Planning (TP) wing revealed that the wing has adopted a new method to ‘facilitate’ the illegal constructions in the garb of apartment building and the maps of new apartment buildings were approved on non-commercial and frozen roads, which were later converted into commercial plazas.

According to the rules, in apartment building, a limited space was allowed for a shop to cater the needs of the residents of the particular building.

Other than this, many other illegal commercial constructions were going on in various localities including the model roads blatantly. These localities included Johar Town, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Ferozpur Road, Multan Road and many private societies such as Wapda Town, PIA Housing Society and Board of Revenue etc. Sources in TP wing claimed that one can found many ongoing constructions on Nazria-e-Pakistan Road and one of the such buildings at the road was approved as an apartment building but on its ground floor a renowned brand was establishing its coffee outlet. Sources claimed that allegedly a number of influential officers from within and outside LDA has asked the LDA officers concerned to abstain from inspecting the building.

Sources claimed that some of the illegal constructions in posh localities were also ignored by LDA’s TP Wing on the alleged instructions from political and bureaucratic figures.

Recently, a neighbour of a senior LDA official constructed a restaurant on the main road of Johar Town at Tikka Chowk. The building was approved as a commercial building but it was changed into a restaurant, which has entirely different requirements for parking and covered area.

None of the LDA’s TP branch stopped the construction of this building but later when it came on limelight, the CTP asked the owners to submit a revised plan as per the rules and regulations regarding the restaurants. Sources in LDA maintained that the construction of the building should have been stopped when it was started.

Similarly, in F-2 Block Johar Town, one can witness a skeleton of commercial construction behind a renowned store. The construction was made in a purely residential area and for the cover, construction at the site was stopped but work was being done inside the building.

Citizens of the locality asked the LDA DG to visit the area and himself witness the illegal construction and take action against the TP wing officers who were involved in ‘facilitation’.

Many other commercial buildings can be seen standing completed on PIA Road, Wapda Town, Ferozpur Road, College Road and many other nearby localities and as per sources, they will be opened at the ‘right time’.

The scribe contacted CTP Shakeel Minhas about the restaurant at Tikka Chowk but he didn’t bother to reply. Later, in a one-to-one meeting, the CTP said there were hundreds of media persons covering LDA and he can’t answer everyone.

When asked about the ongoing illegal constructions and commercialization in the LDA-controlled areas, he said his team was working tirelessly and always took action against such buildings.

Sources said the main boulevard of Johar Town starting from Allah Hoo Chowk and ending at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital was a frozen road, which means no new construction can take place on this road while no change in any building can be done but in reality, the entire road was full of commercial buildings, teahouses, restaurants and other commercial buildings.

Citizens say the LDA’s main office was also situated on the same road and the LDA DG and the top management of the authority including the Chief Town Planner traveled on this road daily but without taking notice of these commercial buildings.

The citizens wonder how the frozen road has been turned into a major commercial zone and why an action was not taken to stop their construction and why these buildings were being converted into commercial ones. The road leading to canal from ShadiwalChowk was also turned into a full commercial zone with multi-storey plazas, some of them were still under construction while Samsani Road was turned into a market of car repairing shops and big and small businesses related to car repairs, denting and painting and workshops were established. This road was also a residential road but was being changed into a commercial zone very rapidly. Recently, LDA started a drive against parking and encroachments in Johar Town and sealed many shops and business outlets on G1 Model road but today all businesses were opened and operational.

Meanwhile, Commissioner/LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa said he always took notice of illegal construction and has already ordered filing cases for violating the rules and de-sealing the properties sealed by the LDA by the owners and management themselves.

Meanwhile, following the commissioner’s orders, LDA teams on Thursday, sealed more than two dozen properties in LDA Avenue One, Jubilee Town, Township and adjacent localities for illegal commercial use.

Director TP Azhar Ali and Director TP Ali Abbas conducted the operation under the supervision of Additional DG Housing Capt (retd) Shahmeer Iqbal. During the operation many buildings, including workshops, oil store, marble cutting shops, commercial buildings and electrical and paint stores were sealed and many other properties were demolished.

Illegal constructions unstoppable

2023-08-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: The country witnessed above average (+70%) during the previous month of July and stood 9th wettest July during past 63 years.

Data collected from Met office revealed that the previous record of national highest rainfall for the month of July was 177.80 mm, which occurred in 2022.Met official data further revealed that the wettest day of the month in the country was July 23 when Lahore recorded 206 mm rainfall and interestingly this exceptional rainfall also made Lahore the wettest place with monthly total rainfall of 668.7 mm.

Climatologically, the July rainfall contribution to the national annual total and monsoon was 21.3% & 44.9% respectively. During July 2023, the country experienced 4-5 widespread heavy/very heavy rainfall spells. The situation was similar on regional scale too.

GB recording largely above average (44.30 mm/+233%) saw the wettest ever July during past 63 years (record was 44.20 mm in 1993), while, for Balochistan with 62.70 mm/+111% (record was 163.30 mm in 2022) and Sindh 146.0 mm/+143% (record is 245.40 mm in 2022) the month ranked 7th and 9th wettest July during past 63 years respectively. Punjab with 152.80 mm/+47%, AJK with 27.70 mm/+31% and KP with 127.30 mm/+19% also observed above normal rainfall.

The other significant rains were recorded at Balakot 477.0 mm, Islamabad Zero Point 453.9 mm, Kasur 442.0 mm, Kakul 427.0 mm, Sialkot Cantt 422.4 mm, Murree 415.5 mm, Rawalpindi 408.0 mm, Rawlakot 400.9 mm, Muzaffarabad Airport 392.1 mm, Gujranwala Cantt 386.5 mm, Muzaffarabad City 379.0 mm, Chakwal 365.9 mm, Jhelum 346.4 mm, Padidan 327.6 mm, Malam Jabba 319.0 mm and Mandi Bahauddin 296.0 mm.

Nokkundi was the only station, which remained absolutely dry with no rain during the month.The national mean monthly temperature of July 2023 for Pakistan was 30.70°C, being -0.52°C cooler than average of 31.22°C. Daytime (maximum) temperature at country-level was 36.25°C, being -1.01°C cooler than the country-average of 37.26°C.

Data also revealed that the nighttime (minimum) temperature at country-level was 25.08°C, being -0.06°C cooler than the country’s average of 25.13°C.

The hottest day of the month was recorded in Dalbandin (Balochistan) on July 2 and in Nokkundi (Balochistan) during July 1 to 3, when it reached 47.5°C. Nokkundi, with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 43.6°C, was the warmest place during that month.

Similarly, the coldest temperature (6.5°C) of the month was recorded at Bagrote (GB) on July 8, 2023 whereas the Kalam being the coldest place with 11.4°C in mean monthly minimum temperature.

The situation was almost similar on the regional scale too as GB with 24.06 °C (-1.96 °C), KP with 28.14 °C (-0.86 °C), Punjab with 31.75 °C (-0.77 °C), AJK 25.00 °C (-0.42 °C), and Balochistan with 31.57 °C (-0.31 °C) all recorded cooler than average temperatures. Sindh with 32.56 °C (0.05 °C) was the only region that exhibited slightly warmer than average temperature.

July 2023 mean maximum (daytime) temperature of 36.25 °C recorded at country-level was also -1.01 °C cooler than average of 37.26 °C. Similarly, the country-level night (minimum) temperature of 25.08 °C was -0.06 °C (slightly) cooler than average of 25.13 °C (Table-5). The mean temperature anomalies ranged from -5.1 to +1.8 °C while the mean maximum temperature anomalies were from -4.1 to +1.8 °C in the country, being considerably higher in lower Sindh.

July 2023 breaks rain records of 63 years

2023-08-09T06:45:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: Once again, the monsoon has brought urban flooding to Lahore. But this time, it appears that the concerned civic agencies may just be better prepared than they were last year.

During the month, the city witnessed two major rain spells, drowning almost all major roads. But the rainwater was cleared within the next few hours.

This was made possible because the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) had started early desilting of drains; deployed extra machinery; upgraded disposal stations; constituted emergency camps and rapid response teams; and standby generators and water pumps.

However, experts says that these steps are not enough and the rapidly growing city needs well-planned, long-term solutions to cope with the phenomenon of urban flooding.

(Picture is taken from Google)

For the past several years, other than Lahore, many big cities in the province have faced a similar situation. Urban flooding, as per experts, is a result of climate change under which weather patterns of the region have changed and are changing, with rains having increased in summers and winters.

Another factor behind urban flooding in big cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan is the unplanned expansion of residential localities, which lack proper civic amenities, especially drainage systems.

Experts believe that the non-implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in the construction sector has been a factor in urban flooding. This ultimately damages properties as well as other infrastructure of the cities.

Ghufran Ahmed, WASA’s managing director, tells The News on Sunday that this monsoon, the agency has handled urban flooding with a plan in place. “We focused on 26 vulnerable points in the provincial capital historically known for accumulating rainwater during monsoon,” he says. Ahmed says that the two underground rainwater storage tanks had also helped in clearing rainwater.

He says that the agency has planned the construction of 12 underground rainwater storage tanks, out of which two (Kashmir Road and Lawrence Road) have become operational. The water stored in these tanks is later used by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for gardening and by Rescue 1122 for firefighting.

Other measures taken by the WASA include the establishment of emergency camps on various city roads and round-the-clock deployment of field staff at these camps. The WASA managing director says that all disposal stations had been upgraded before the monsoon season and were ready to ensure flow of channels and dewatering operations from low-lying pockets. “Overall, the strict monitoring of the post-rain operations helped the agency in dealing with urban flooding,” he adds.

(Picture is taken from Google)

Ghufran Ahmed claims that urban flooding in Lahore is a new phenomenon. He says it needs innovative solutions. “We can construct rainwater drains in the densely populated pockets of the city. We have planned to lay underground rainwater drains using trenchless technologies,” he says.

Last year, President Dr Arif Alvi had endorsed the replication of underground rainwater storage facilities in other cities, especially Islamabad and Karachi to combat urban flooding and, later, the use of the stored water. Islamabad and Karachi have also been facing urban flooding issues for several years and also require new solutions.

Desilting of sewer lines of 5,187 kilometre, and 55.70 kilometre primary drains, which dispose of their water in Ravi River, was also part of the monsoon emergency plan, says the WASA chief adding that past data of rainfall was considered while making monsoon emergency plan for the city. Like the previous year, a fully integrated monsoon control room was established at WASA’s head office.

The PDMA has also held meetings with the district emergency operation centres across the Punjab. District administrations in the Punjab were asked to ensure that drains in their jurisdictions were checked on a daily basis and cleaned in a timely manner.

However, slackness was observed in some districts during the monsoon season.

A senior officer of the PDMA, seeking anonymity, said that lack of funds for purchasing basic tools and improving infrastructure to combat urban flooding was one of the biggest problems. He says that there are certain gaps and constraints in the implementation of the flood emergency plans in every district. These include a low-morale water rescue staff; communication gaps between related departments; and unavailability of proper logistics to reach disaster-hit areas.

For its part, the PDMA has directed all officers to secure complete information about their districts, at risk of urban flooding, as well as villages in danger due to floods. The PDMA has also issued advisories to its district officers. It has directed district officers to upload daily data on the PDMA portal and to send prompt emergency reports to concerned agencies.

This year, the district administration of Lahore also ran an extensive awareness programme and media campaign to sensitise the general public about urban flooding and the need for necessary precautions.

Lahore division commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa says that the administration is fully prepared. He says that during the two previous heavy rain spells, urban flooding was dealt with as per their plan. The commissioner says that all civic departments and rescue services are ready to deal with any emergency situation.

Urban Flooding in Lahore

LDA in the hands of 'Blue-eyed' officers

2023-07-25T06:26:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: The top management of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has attempted to change the basic skeleton of the authority by eliminating the independence of Metropolitan and Town Planning wings.

Sources in LDA claimed that the move was allegedly taken to oblige the ‘blue-eyed’ ADGs, who will now head the directorates, which were not relevant to their job descriptions. According to organogram available on the LDA’s website, the director general is the head under whom six different departmental heads are mentioned ADG (HQ), ADG (Housing), ADG (Urban Planning), Chief Engineer, Chief Metropolitan Planner and Chief Town Planner.

Recently, LDA’s Administration department issued a notification on the orders of DG LDA/Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Randhawa which stated that work distribution among the Additional Director Generals was done with immediate effects.

As per the new notification, ADG (Headquarter) will be the head of Directorate of Administration, Directorate of Coordination & Implementation, Directorate of Finance, Directorate of information Technology (Implementation & Operations), Directorate of Information Technology (Networks, Systems & Security), Directorate of information Technology (General), Directorate of information Technology (Coordination), Strategic Policy Unit, Directorate of Public Relations & Marketing, Directorate of Revenue, Directorate of Sports Complexes and Directorate of Environmental Control.

The notification further said that ADG (Housing) will be heading Metropolitan Planning Wing, Town Planning Wing, Directorate of Estate Management (PHS), Directorate of Housing-I to XII, Directorate of Enforcement, Directorate of Land Acquisition and Directorate of One Window Operations.

ADG (Urban Planning) will be heading Directorate of Law (Civil Court Section), Directorate of Law (Supreme Court & High Court, Directorate of Law (Appellate Courts & Others), Directorate of Record Management and Chief Security Office while ADG (Education & Katchi Abadies) will be heading Directorate of Education and Directorate of Katchi Abadies.

The notification further stated that respective committees (such as Exemption Cases Scrutiny Committee) shall be overseen by the relevant Additional Director Generals, LDA and the aforementioned arrangement shall come into force at once until further orders.

Talking to The News on the condition of anonymity, many senior officers of LDA said the offices of MP and TP were always independent and never worked under the ADG (Housing). They said both the wings have their own heads and hierarchy and placing them under ADG (Housing) will put an extra burden on the ADG (Housing), which will ultimately affect the citizens.

Similarly, placing all the law directorates and security of LDA under ADG (UP) was also raised eyebrows as the Urban Planning has no concern with these directorates. They said basically the law directorates and security was the job of the ADG (HQ), who was given the department of environmental control, which should be under the ADG (Housing) or CMP/CTP.

Another senior officer of LDA told The News that the LDA Act 1975, clearly states that “The Director General shall be the Chief Executive of the Authority and shall (a) be a whole time officer of the Authority.” He said the commissioner was performing duties of the DG LDA in addition to his post and he can’t make changes, which were against the basic skeleton of the authority. He said the government should appoint a full time DG LDA as per LDA’s Act 1975.

“It seems that pick and choose formula is adopted while making this notification,” another LDA officer, on the request of not to be named, said the post of ADG (UP) was vacant from some months back but it was revived to ‘accommodate’ the present ADG Munawar Bukhari, who was earlier appointed as ADG (Housing). Later, Capt Retd Shameer who was serving in the office of caretaker the CM was posted as ADG (Housing) and Munawar Bukhari was made ADG (UP).

When contacted, Munawar Bukhari said that he was not the person concerned to ask any questions about his posting as ADG (UP) as well as the new notification. He asked The News to contact the DG LDA for answers.

While talking to The News, Commissioner Lahore/DG LDA said that the decision was made in good faith and to streamline the existing problems being faced by the general public. He said no independence of any wing was compromised and he will restore the independent status of the MP and TP wing after checking the LDA laws.

To a question about placing all the law directorates and security under ADG (UP), he said as the ADG (HQ) was on training so these directorates were placed under ADG (UP). The commissioner denied the impression that the notification was issued to oblige anyone and said there were no blue-eyed officers in LDA. “The only consideration of the posting in LDA is performance,” he said.

'Blue-eyed' officers at LDA

A fresh tale of grievance: Poor man deprived of 10-marla plot

2023-07-24T05:46:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: Everyday tales of grievance are witnessed at the LDA office and today’s story was of Muhammad Ilyas who was running from pillar to post to get his plot back, which was canceled after more than 20 years due to unknown reasons.

The scribe found M Ilyas, a resident of Chah Miran who was a salesman in a local cosmetic company, crying outside the office of LDA DG/Commissioner Lahore M Ali Randhawa. He was holding a big plastic bag full of different documents and was trying to convince the DG’s staff that he was an aggrieved person and wanted to meet the DG but was told that the LDA DG was not present in his office and most of the time he used to sit at the office of Commissioner Lahore.

While talking to the scribe, Ilyas lost his control and started crying very hard and told that his father Mushtaq Ahmed got a plot (514-N) in Sabzaar Housing Scheme from the LDA under exemption rules in 1992.

“The 10 marla plot was transferred to my father under letter number 52R/JN/529/21387 dated 9/9/2003,” he said and maintained that on 29/6/2020, the LDA canceled the above-mentioned transfer order and was allotted to someone else who constructed a house there and sold it. The poor man, who has no political background or any other strong connection, lodged various applications in LDA but none of the officers concerned listened to him. He claimed that during the last three years he was abused and humiliated by the LDA officers whenever he went to them to inquire the matter because he was a poor man.

“We are four brothers and a sister and the plot was our only hope for life and we faced very difficulties in life but didn’t sell it,” he said and appealed the Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi to launch an inquiry into the case and direct the LDA to give him another plot of same size at a similar location.

Later, Ilyas was taken to the office of PS to LDA DG who gave him a patient hearing and asked him to file a new application in the name of LDA DG. The officer also told him that he will take him to the Additional DG (Housing) and the matter will be investigated in a proper manner and LDA will provide him every help within the legal framework.

When contacted, LDA Director DG Cell, Asif Hussain said that all such cases were sent to the bona fide commission of LDA. When asked that the commission didn’t exist for the past two years, he claimed that a summary for the appointment of the commission was already sent to the Chief Minister and he will appoint the commission very soon. However, he said that if the applicant will come to his office again, he would definitely take up his case.

Tales of grievances at LDA

Delay in completion of Samanabad Underpass: CM’s two-member body to oversee project

2023-07-22T05:40:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:Expressing his anger over delay in the construction of Samanabad Underpass, Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has constituted a two-member committee to oversee and ensure timely completion of the project.

The CM visited the project some two days back and expressed his anger over the delay in the completion on the estimated time. Earlier, the CM also visited LDA’s One Window Cell and expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance and changed the entire staff.

Sources in the LDA claimed that the caretaker government wanted Muhammad Ali Randhawa to quit one of the two posts - Commissioner or LDA DG. Sources in LDA claimed that so far none of the affectees of the Samanabad Underpass project from whom land was acquired for the project was paid his due amount.

Sources said the affectees were running pillar to post to get their payments because the LAC branch in LDA was creating hurdles for them and raising undue objections in the ownership titles of the affectees.

Interestingly, on Sunday, the CM Office has issued a notification with regard to the constitution of a committee about Samanabad Underpass. As per the notification, Secretary Housing will be the Convener/Member while Secretary C&W will be the Member of the Committee. The committee under its supervision will ensure timely completion of Samanabad Underpass project. The committee will also oversee quality of work on the project and will remove obstacles arising in the timely completion of the project. The committee will visit the project on daily basis and will present a daily progress report to the CM. When contacted, LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the notification for land acquisition for Samanabad project was already made. He said he will ask the Deputy Commissioner to investigate the matter as why the payments to the affectees were not made so far. He said he will not tolerate any negligence in this regard and will take strict action against the officials/officers concerned who were creating hurdles in payment to the affectees.

To a question about the committee constituted by the CM on Samanabad project, he said the CM has all powers and authority to do so. He said the project was delayed due to rainy season but LDA was putting all its efforts to complete it within the stipulated deadline.

To a question about dual job, he said he was actively doing both the jobs and there were no complaints. He said he was a public servant and will do what he will be assigned to do by the government.

Samanabad underpass delayed

LDA adopts soft policy against defaulters

2023-07-21T04:30:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: Town Planning (TP) Wing of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has adopted a soft policy against the defaulters of government fees and allowed them to run their businesses just by sending them notices.

Sources in LDA claimed that there were hundreds of defaulters of commercialization and other fees worth billions of rupees but different wings of LDA only send them soft notices to fill the files and cover up any future legal action by Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) or any other government agency.

In extreme pressure, Town Planning officials used to seal the defaulting premises, which were usually de-sealed after taking an undertaking from the owner that they will pay their pending fees. In some cases, TP officials also send requests for registration of FIRs, disconnection of electricity and water connections and ban on sale or purchase of the defaulting premises but didn’t follow these letters.

One of the best examples in this regard was the case of the UFC Gym situated at Defence Road. ACE took up the case of the pending dues of the gym and sent a notice to the LDA’s Director TP (Zone-V) on which he sealed the gym on the day of his appearance in the ACE.

Three days back before the appearance at the ACE, notices were sent to ADCR with the subject “Request to impose ban regarding sale/purchase/transfer on land bearing Khasra No 2,475, 2,474, 2,473, 2,396, 2,403 to 2,406, 2,391, 2,393, 2,394, Khata No 51/26, 49/25, 48/24, 251/208, 52/27, 50/2,526 Khatoni No 55, 53, 52, 311, 56, 54 Mouza Sadhoki Tehsil Model Town.”

“Demand challan was issued amounting to Rs153,273,600 dated 03-03-2021 and its due date was 18-03-2021. However, despite repeated reminders and notices the owner did not deposit the land use conversion fee. The owner/occupant/is running business in the name of UFC Gym at the site,” the notice said and requested the ADCR that being defaulters of the government as surcharge @17.5 per cent was applicable as per rates of current fiscal year 2023-24, ban may be imposed on sale/purchase/transfer on the subject land.

Sources in LDA claimed that the Chief Town Planner told the LDA DG that there were two major defaulters of TP wing and UFC Gym was one of them as around Rs900 millions was pending towards it. However, the recent challan made by the LDA for the gym was only of around Rs150 millions. When contacted, LDA Chief Town Planner Shakeel Anjum Minhas said that there was no such policy and LDA has recovered around Rs6 billion during the previous fiscal year in terms of different fees.

Talking about the case of UFC Gym, he said he has already directed the Director TP concerned to issue notices to all the govt departments concerned and explore all other legal ways to recover the pending amount.

LDA's soft heart towards big defaulters

No bylaws for rooftop gardening

2023-07-10T07:41:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: As the city grows vertically, concepts such as vertical farming and rooftop gardens are becoming more and more familiar. Interestingly, while the custodians of Lahore’s development, especially the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), have made it mandatory for all high-rise buildings to convert 50 percent of their rooftops into green spaces — and for this the authority has also issued notices to buildings over noncompliance — they are yet to devise bylaws and rules related to roof top gardening.

Also, it has been observed that what is being done in the name of rooftop gardening is in some cases merely ornamental or decorative. Rauf Aslam, an urban planner, says a green roof or rooftop garden is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. “Green roof systems include several layers, including structural support, vapour barrier, thermal insulation, root barrier, drainage layer, filter membrane, growing medium and vegetation.”

Aslam defines rooftop garden as a type of farming atop a building, or a home, or some residential infrastructure. It can range from raised beds and pots, rolled-out green carpets, shaded roofs containing planting cells that are filled with soil or compost and planted up with low-growing perennials and grasses.

In response to a question, he says that apart from the decorative value, a rooftop garden serves to provide architectural enhancement, temperature control, recreational opportunities and habitats for wildlife.

LDA’s chief town planner Shakeel Anjum Minhas admits that there may be no clear definition of rooftop garden in the authority’s books. He says rules and regulations are being worked out to that effect and should soon be up for approval.

Minhas also agrees that currently most high-rise buildings have only decorated their rooftops by placing planters and laying artificial grass. “At least, the builders and contractors are becoming inclined towards going green,” he adds. “Hopefully, this will lead to an easy adoption of rooftop vegetation in the future.”

It may be mentioned here that the Lahore High Court (LHC) recently constituted a committee to find solutions for air pollution and smog in the provincial metropolis.

The former head of TEPA, Abdul Razzaq Chauhan, says rooftop gardens not only have aesthetic appeal but also contribute to lowering the temperature in the surroundings. “[Green roofs] can be used as a weapon against climate change. These help in reducing energy use by bringing down the demand for air-conditioners,” he says. “They also absorb various poisonous gases in the air and help lower ozone levels.

Salman Ahmed, a private town planner, seconds Chauhan by saying that rooftop vegetation provides “great insulation by retaining heat in winters and keeping the temperatures on the cooler side in summers.”

(Pictures from Google)

Ahmed quotes a study according to which Copenhagen made rooftop gardens mandatory in 2010 for all new commercial buildings with a roof slope of less than 30 degrees. In 2016, the city of Córdoba in Argentina issued a bylaw that mandated all buildings with rooftops of more than 1,300 square feet to be turned into green roofs. The same year, San Francisco decreed that 15 to 30 percent of roof space on new buildings should incorporate solar panels or green roofs, or both. More recently, the New York City Council passed a law to reduce greenhouse gases; it includes a requirement for green roofs or solar panels, or a combination of the two, on newly constructed buildings. Washington DC’s storm water regulations and Philadelphia’s tax credit, too, encourage green roofs.

A town planner in LDA tells TNS on condition of anonymity that the strength of a building’s structure must be considered before launching into rooftop gardening, as the weight of a garden can be too much to bear for many a roof. Secondly, a system of waterproofing must be installed on top of the buildings with a complete drainage system and roof protection mats. In the absence of these precautions, the goal cannot be achieved, he says.

For Minhas, bylaws with respect to technical requirements for rooftop plantation are under consideration by the LDA and would soon be reviewed by the authority for implementation.

No bylaws for rooftop gardening

June 2023 witnesses 160pc more rains

2023-07-09T06:52:00.017-07:00

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: The country received over 160 per cent more rainfall in the previous month of June 2023 turning it into the 2nd wettest June during past 63 years whereas the record was 88.10 mm in June 2007.

Data collected from Met office revealed that the national rainfall for the month of June 2023 was excessively above average (+160pc). It said the wettest day of the month in the country was 26th June when Lahore recorded 226.0 mm rainfall, interestingly this exceptional rainfall also made Lahore the wettest place with monthly total rainfall of 392.5 mm.

The situation was more or less similar on regional scale too as in Balochistan rainfall was 27.20 mm/+199% (record was 114.00 mm in 2007), Sindh witnessed 49.60 mm/+385% (record was 51.60 mm in 1964) and with these figures both provinces were declared 3rd for wettest June during past 63 years. Met office data showed that in Punjab 80.10 mm/+172% (record was 93.60 mm in 2007) was recorded and it ranked as the 4th wettest June during past 63 years, KP witnessed 67.90 mm/+89% (record was 82.90 mm in 2008) and it ranked as the 7th wettest June during past 63 years, AJK with 93.50 mm/+48% (record was 172.40 mm in 1971) and ranked as the 8th wettest June during past 63 years. The GB was the only region that witnessed nearly average rainfall with 11.70 mm/+9%.

Data of Met officials showed that the national mean monthly temperature of June 2023 for Pakistan was 31.26°C, being -0.72°C cooler than average of 31.98°C. Daytime (maximum) temperature at country-level was 37.85°C, being -1.00°C cooler than the country-average of 38.85°C. Nighttime (minimum) temperature at country-level was 24.60°C, being -0.07°C cooler than the country-average of 24.68°C.

The situation was more or less similar on a regional scale too as KP with 28.31°C (-1.30°C), Sindh 33.38°C (-0.86°C), AJK 25.09°C (-0.19°C), Punjab 32.32°C (-2.05°C) and Balochistan with 32.21°C (-0.03°C) all recorded cooler than average temperatures. GB was the only region with 24.46°C (+0.72°C) that exhibited warmer than average temperature,

The hottest day of the month was at Turbat (Balochistan) when it recorded 49.5°C temperature on 7th June while Nokkundi (Balochistan) proved to be the warmest place with 44.8°C average maximum temperature during the month. Kalam (KP) recorded the month’s coldest night temperature of 4.0°C on 1st & 2nd June and incidentally has been the coolest place with 8.8°C average minimum temperature.

(Pictures selected from Google)

Summer changed into Rainy season

LDA issues notice to private developer over violations

2023-07-06T08:36:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has issued a show cause notice to a private developer for illegal development of a housing society.

LDA’s metropolitan wing issued the show cause notice to the Soul City on Monday for the violations u/s 13(5), 14A, 34, 35 R/W 5, 6 and 17 of second schedule part-B of the LDA Act 1975 read with amended act 2013.

The notice says, “Mouza Jhedu, Lahore was technically approved by competent Authority on 27.01.2023. However, during the routine field visit of the area, it has been observed that in violation of the subject cited provisions of the LDA Act-1975 R/W LDA Amended Act 2013, you have been found committing following illegalities: “Illegal development, without prior approval from competent authority, of Soul City Housing Scheme measuring an area of 1,817-kanal-6marla-122sft, falling in Mouza Jhedu, Tehsil Model Town.”

It further said that the society has started illegal development at site including leveling of roads and laying of sewerage trunk infrastructure without prior final approval/sanction of the Housing Scheme from competent authority. That they have started illegal extension of the scheme on the site of an under process housing scheme namely Punjab University Town 3 and that the affectees of Punjab University Town 3 were being compensated with files/plots of Soul City.

The notice said public at large was complaining to LDA office regardingsale/purchase/allotment of pots/files against the approved layout plan of Soul City Housing Scheme. “Therefore, it is intimated that above noted illegalities are cognizable offences under the Act/Rules ibid and liable to be punished U/S 34, 35 of LDA Act 1975 R/W amended act 2013,” the notice added.

“You are, therefore, served with this notice to stop forthwith above illegalities/offences and submit your reply within seven-days from issuance of this notice, failing which it shall be assumed that you have nothing to offer in your defense, consequently the LDA shall be at liberty to proceed against you for further legal action under prevailing laws/rules without service of any further notice,” the notice warned.

Meanwhile, Dr Khuram Shahzad, Assistant Professor of School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore has filed an application before the DG LDA with a subject “Issuance of Fake Soul City Housing Scheme Letters to PU Town 3/Jamia Town Members.”

In the application, he said the undersigned had purchased files of 2 plots at Punjab University Town 3/Jamia Town at Mouza Jia Bagga. “Apart from a fraud of worth billions of rupees in the town, I want to point out, verify and request your good self to look into another great scam of issuance of fake LDA approved stamped letters to Jamia Town 3 members,” he stated. He said that the undersigned received an email from the Secretary, Management Committee, PU Town 3/Jamia Town that they have launched a joint venture with Marwa Developers. He stated that in the email “LDA Approved” letters will be issued to the members by the Soul City and instructed the members to “surrender” original challans, registration letters and all other original documents to the management.

The issuance of this suspicious “LDA approved stamped” letter was conditioned with fulfilling various other suspicious terms and conditions and all the process was completed in a very haste - distribution of around 1,000 letters in just three days from April 27-29, 2023, he revealed.

“A copy of the email is attached herewith as annexure A. A copy of such a letter issued to a member is also attached as Annexure B. However, since the member has some fears, identification marks have been removed from the letter. A copy of the news item is also attached at annexure C,” he maintained and said that he wanted to verify that whether these letters issued by Soul City to the members of Jamia Town were true/fake/duly approved by the Lahore Development Authority, keeping in view that the approval of Jamia Town was under process till the issuance of the letters to the members i.e. April 27-29, 2023 while the Soul City Housing Scheme was technically approved for another piece of land containing very different Khasra Numbers and location than the Jamia Town.

Dr Khurram Shahzad appealed the LDA DG to take an immediate notice of the issue and proceed as per law over this scam. While talking to The News, he said he along with other affectees will also approach the NAB, FIA and Anti-Corruption Establishment against the alleged fraud.
Illegal Housing Societies

Nine cities of Pakistan record temperatures above 40°C in April

2023-07-05T08:34:00.001-07:00

Nine cities in Pakistan recorded temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade and above during the ongoing month of April 2023.

This was revealed in a recent study conducted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The study revealed that unprecedented heat wave has also hit several other Asian countries during the ongoing month and broke temperature records in Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar also. ICIMOD was dedicated to sustainable mountain development and in its study it urged global governments, businesses, and development agencies to take immediate action to reduce emissions and accelerate adaptation efforts in the region. Figures mentioned in the study revealed that temperatures on Monday (17 April) reached 41 degrees centigrade in Dhaka (Bangladesh), 45 degrees in Prayagraj (India), 44 in Kalewa (Myanmar), Changsha and Fuzhou set the earliest local records for summer, and Zhejiang province broke the record for highest April temperature while on April 23, 2023 nine cities in Pakistan recorded temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade and above.

ICIMOD was based in Kathmandu, Nepal and was a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

The study revealed that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which was home to 2 billion people, was particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its high altitude. The recent heat waves were exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, especially poverty and hunger and leading to deaths, school closures and work disruptions.

ICIMOD experts warned that human-induced climate change was the major cause of the growing number and ferocity of heat waves being reported across Asia and if these heat waves continued, they will impact 2 billion people directly and indirectly causing water scarcity, food insecurity, erratic rainfall, floods, and landslides. The organisation has urged for faster emissions reductions, scaled-up adaptation finance and greater investment in adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures to protect the people and ecosystems in this region.

ICIMOD, which works with Nasa, USAID and partners to monitor and predict regional droughts and extreme weather events through its SERVIR-HKH initiative, said that they have also shared the data with public bodies in eight regional member countries to support evidence-based decision-making.

They said the media should help in raising awareness of the urgent need for action to avert catastrophic impacts across the HKH region. They further said that they were available to provide further information or arrange interviews with our experts.

In its recent study, the organisation claimed that Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan were hit by crippling heat as temperature records were broken in the member countries during the ongoing month of April 2023.

Abid Hussain, Senior Economist & Food Systems Specialist at ICIMOD said “All climate models show that the spikes in heat are going to increase in frequency and intensity across South Asia. Such heat waves will impact 2 billion people either directly, in terms of heat impacts on health and work or indirectly in terms of glacier melt, floods, water variability, erratic rainfall and landslides.”

The heat waves come as the United Nations State of the World Climate report shows Antarctic sea ice falling to its lowest extent on record and the melting of glaciers in the European Alps as “literally off the charts,” he said and added that the Hindu Kush Himalaya, which held the third largest body of frozen water in the world, was warming at double the global average.

The report added that higher temperatures mean that glaciers melt faster and the resulting water flowing into rivers was less predictable. As temperatures continued to rise and glaciers get smaller, this leads to water scarcity and food insecurity in the region as well as increasing the likelihood of hazards such as flash floods, it added.

“Because of inadequate institutional and community capacity, most of these hazards are likely to turn into disasters,” said ICIMOD’s Senior Economist & Food Systems Specialist Abid Hussain in the study.

The ICIMOD study predicted that in the most optimistic scenario, limiting global warming to 1.5 C, the region stands to lose one third of its glaciers by 2100 – creating huge risk to mountain communities, ecosystems and nature and the quarter of humanity downstream. The rate of ice mass loss in the Hindu Kush Himalayas has consistently accelerated over the past six decades and glaciers even above 6,000 meters above sea level were thinning, it maintained.

“Changes are now happening far faster than we feared and 1.5 degrees of warning is simply too hot,” says the study adding it was urgent that we make rapid and drastic progress in emissions reductions and scale adaptation finance, and for a much greater impact in adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures to protect the people and ecosystems, whose vulnerabilities are increasing by the day through no fault of their own.
Published in daily The News on April 27, 2023
Climate Change affecting Pakistan

Impact of climate change: November 1.2C warmer than average

2022-12-07T07:02:00.004-08:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: After recent devastating floods, the country witnessed another impact of climate change in November with the month 1.22°C warmer than average national mean monthly temperature.

Besides rise in temperature, November, which has been a less-average rainy month contributing about 19.5% and 1.7% to the post-monsoon and annual rainfall respectively, witnessed an increase of +145% in rainfall.

Deviation in the rainy patron has changed November 2022 to be a largely above average rainfall month and 8th highest rainfall in past 62 years, whereas record is 31.4mm in 2019 for Pakistan with 12.7mm area-weighted rain against 5.2mm monthly average.

Data collected from Met office revealed warmer than average temperatures were observed in the country in November. The month was 1.22°C warmer than average with national mean monthly temperature of 18.86 °C against the average 17.63°C.

Similarly, on regional scale, Balochistan with 19.56 °C (+1.99 °C), Sindh 24.26°C (+1.44°C) and Punjab 20.05°C (+0.91°C) recorded warmer than average temperatures. AJK with 11.06 (-0.59°C), GB 7.66°C (-0.47°C) and KP 14.79°C (-0.14°C) recorded cooler than average temperature.

November 2022 mean maximum (daytime) temperature of 26.07°C recorded at country level being +0.14°C, slightly warmer than average of 25.93°C, data revealed. Average night (minimum) temperature of 11.65°C was +2.32°C, warmer than the country-average of 9.33°C, during the month.

The mean temperature anomalies of November range between -2.04°C to +3.2°C in the country. The mean minimum temperature anomalies were -2.7°C to +5.5°C with minimum temperature anomalies over upper Sindh, South Punjab and central parts of Balochistan considerably higher.

As per data, the hottest day of the month was at Mithi (Sindh) when it recorded 40.5°C temperature on November 2 which has also been the warmest place with 35.2°C average maximum temperature during the month. Skardu recorded month’s coldest temperature (-8.0°C) on November 24 and incidentally has also been the coolest place with -2.2°C average minimum temperature.

Data revealed national rainfall for the month of November was largely above average (+145%). November witnessed three light to moderate rain spells in Punjab and four in KP &GB/AJK. Two light rain spells were observed in Balochistan, while lower Sindh had only one-day light rain.

Situation was almost similar on regional scale. Balochistan (7.4mm/189%), Punjab (11.2/167%), KP (43.3mm/146%), GB (9.8mm/127%) and AJK (49.9mm/126%) all witnessed largely above average rainfall, while Sindh with (0.9mm/-45%) was the only region recording below-average rainfall during the month.

The wettest day of the month in the country was November 8 when Panjgur (Balochistan) recorded 44mm rainfall and set up a new record of heaviest rainfall in 24 hours and wettest month at the station, while Kalam proved to be wettest place with a total of 132.4mm rain.

Other significant monthly-total rains were at Murree (95mm), Garhi Dupatta (77.8mm), Muzaffarabad Airport (100.8mm), Muzaffarabad City (79.6mm), Rawalakot (101.5mm), Balakot (100.0mm), Dir (91mm), Malam Jabba (91mm) and Pattan (130.5mm). Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan, Badin, Chhor, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mithi, Benazirabad, Padidan, Rohri, Sukkur, Moenjo Daro, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Tando Jam, Sakrand, Khairpur, Barkhan, Gwadar, Jiwani, Nokkundi and Pasni remained dry with no rain during the month.

Published in Daily The News, Lahore on December 7, 2022

Impact of climate change: November 1.2C warmer than average

Climate Change--Punjab has so far received less rain this month

2020-08-09T07:55:00.003-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: The average monthly rain in Punjab has reduced a lot during the ongoing monsoon season, especially in the month of July 2020, which may put negative results on seasonal crops as well as overall weather conditions.

Data collected from Met Office showed that from July 1 till July 29, 2020, normal rainfall occurred in provincial metropolis was 190.9 mm, whereas, this July it was 137.7 mm. The data revealed that in July 2020 highest rainfall was 209.4 mm occurred in Islamabad, which in 2019 was 252.4 mm, in 2018 it was 371 mm and in 2017 it was 284.6 mm while Islamabad’s normal rainfall was 368.6 mm.

For the ongoing week, Met Office predicts that monsoon currents are continuously penetrating the upper and eastern parts of the country and are likely to continue in the coming days. It says westerly wave is also likely to influence the upper parts of the country around the weekend, which will result in rain-thundershowers with gusty winds at scattered places.

The data of Met Office of average monthly rain from July 1 till July 29, 2020 in big cities revealed that in Lahore 137.7 mm rain was recorded in this period while in 2019 it was 424 mm, in 2018 it was 4004 mm and in 2017 it was 152.6 mm. Data further showed that this year average rainy days of every year’s month of July reduced to 12 days from 19 days.

Faisalabad recorded a rainfall of 170.6 mm in July 2020 while in a single day 89 mm rain was recorded in current July. Met officials said that rainy days also decreased to 9 days from 11 days. Muree’s average rainfall in the above mentioned period was 339.5mm and in July this year it was 126 mm only. In 2017 it was 209.6 mm, in 2018 it was 455.3 mm and in 2019 it was 302.6 mm.

Jhelum witnessed 160.4 mm rainfall in July 2020 while in 2019 it was 271.4, in 2018 it was 195.5 mm and in 2017 it was 259.5 mm. Sialkot’s normal rainfall was 312.6 mm but in July 2020 it was only 97.7 mm whereas in 2019 it was 472.2 mm, in 2018 it was 359.2 mm and in 2017 it was 396 mm.

Bahawalpur witnessed 61 mm rain in July 2020, whereas, in 2019 it witnessed no rain, in 2018 it was 77 mm and in 2017 it was 25.6 mm. Gujrat witnessed 18.5 mm rain in July 2020, whereas, in 2019 it witnessed 254.7 mm rainfall, in 2018 it was 167 mm and in 2017 it was 331 mm. Gujranwala witnessed 34 mm rain in July 2020, whereas, in 2019 it witnessed 282.2 mm rain, in 2018 it was 184.4 mm and in 2017 it was 275.2 mm.

The data showed that DG Khan witnessed 50.3 mm rain in July 2020, whereas, in 2019 it witnessed 26 mm rain, in 2018 it was 43.3 mm and in 2017 it was 34 mm. Chakwal witnessed 77.3 mm rain in July 2020, whereas, in 2019 it witnessed 109.5 mm rain, in 2018 it was 137.5 mm and in 2017 it was 204.5 mm.

As per the data, lowest rain 14 mm was recorded at Kamra whereas in 2019 it witnessed 124.1 mm rainfall, in 2018 it was 472 mm and in 2017 it was 332.1 mm. In Jhang, 69.2 mm rain was recorded in July 2020 while in 2019 it was 74.9 mm, in 2018 it was 90.2 mm and in 2017 it was 127.6 mm.

Muhammad Riaz, Director General Pakistan Met Office, while talking to The News said that though Punjab received low rain in July 2020, it will not put any negative impact on seasonal crops. He said monsoon activity will have to prolong till 1st week of September 2020 and anything may happen. He said data analysis of several past years showed that ups and downs often come and it all depends on the monsoon activities at Bay of Bengal. He said he considers July 2020 rains normal and as per routine. He, however, cautioned that ‘we should be ready for any eventuality as one single strong system can play havoc and huge damage’.

On the other hand, on Wednesday city witnessed scattered rain. Met officials said seasonal low lies over north Balochistan. Monsoon currents are penetrating upper parts of the country. They predicted mainly hot and humid weather in most parts of the country. However, rain-wind-thundershowers are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper/central Punjab and Kashmir while rain is also expected at few places in Lower Sindh.

Published in Daily The News on 30th July 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/694119-

Waste piles up after workers’ strike against non-payment

2020-08-09T07:50:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:Most roads of the City are littered with waste as thousands of workers of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) have stopped working over nonpayment of salaries for two months.

Heaps of waste along major roads as well as overflowing skips can be seen in commercial and residential localities. Over 1,000 workers from both Turkish contractors have left working because they have not been paid salaries for the last two months. They include drivers and their helpers, so many vehicles can’t perform the field duty daily. “This has been going on for the past two months and waste is being disposed of in nearby empty plots in several localities such as Sabzaar, Allama Iqbal Town, Taj Bagh and Mughalpura etc,” said a sanitary worker.

On the other hand, LWMC Chairman Riaz Hameed Chaudhary chaired a meeting with the core operations department of the company. MD Shahzaib Hasnain, Deputy Managing Director Tariq Hussain Bhatti and heads of other departments also attended. The LWMC chairman said there would be no tolerance of negligence and officers should work dedicatedly or go home. He also directed the operation staff to make sure Lahore remained clean before, during and after Eid. The LWMC must work in close coordination with its Turk contractors, the MD said, adding that a daily monitoring report must be submitted to ensure effectiveness of the operation.

LWMC DMD Tariq Hussain told The News that salaries of all workers would be cleared today. He said the issue pertained to around 1,000 workers who were not on the payroll of the company.

The LWMC chairman said that a board meeting was called Tuesday evening to discuss the issue. He said the company was making a proposal to take all the 1,000 workers on its own payroll to end the issue forever.

Our correspondent adds: The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority has accorded formal approval to the construction of 35,000 apartments for government employees in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

LDA Vice-Chairman S.M. Imran presided over the 4th meeting of the governing body which was attended by Members of Provincial Assembly Sadia Sohail Rana, Umer Aftab Dhillon, and Muhammad Atif. The meeting allowed modification in the scheme plan of LDA City for the purpose where the apartments will be constructed on more than 8,000 Kanal land situated at Halloki. The project has been named as LDA City Naya Pakistan Apartments. The meeting also decided to receive building plans approval charges of high-rise buildings in four equal quarterly installments in view of the Covid-19 situation.

Published in Daily The News on 29th July 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/693583-

Eye Washing Development--Farooq Ganj underpass submerge in rainwater

2020-08-09T07:45:00.004-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:Submergence of Farooq Ganj underpass on 2nd day of Eidul Azha has exposed the eye washing development work of previous regime as the underpass has insufficient system to drain out stagnant rainwater.

On the 2nd day of the Eid, around 71mm rain was recorded in the north Lahore where Farooq Ganj underpass existed. Some three years back, this was a small tunnel for pedestrian crossing and the previous government directed TEPA to make it a dual side underpass. It was only seven feet high and submerged in every rain, said locals of the area adding the underpass was inaugurated before the previous elections to get votes.

Following the submergence of this underpass, Wasa Managing Director along with other senior officials reached the spot. Wasa MD also ordered an inquiry into the submergence of the underpass and initial inquiry report revealed that three small water draining pumps were installed at this underpass but the basic problem was that they were underground and in case of accumulation of rainwater in the underpass they can’t be repaired.

One out of the three pumps went out of order due to solid waste, which was present in the accumulated rainwater while the efficiency of the second pump also reduced to 50 percent, said a senior official of Wasa adding five to six water sucking machines were also used to drain out rainwater and it took time.

However, Wasa officials cleared the underpass from rainwater until sunset. Local residents demanded the present government remodel this underpass and install an effective system of draining out rainwater at this underpass like other underpasses of the provincial metropolis.

They said, otherwise, the problem would exist in future and Farooq Ganj underpass will remain a hotspot in every monsoon season causing problems for the local residents.

Meanwhile, Wasa Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz while talking with the scribe said that he called a meeting on Monday in which all directors and senior officials were clearly warned that no negligence during monsoon season would be tolerated. He said he had also taken action against several Wasa officials in this regard. As per office order, Saeed Khan, Assistant Director Eng/SDO (BS-17), presently working as SDO Data Nagar Sub Division and Rana Rehman Ali Zia, sub-engineer (BS-14) of Data Nagar sub-division were placed under suspension with immediate effect on account of failure to drain out the underpass timely. They were directed to mark their attendance in the office of Director (O&M) Ravi Town until further orders.

The order said that Zeeshan Manzoor, Assistant Director Eng/SDO (BS-17) presently working as SDO Samanabad sub-division was hereby adjusted/readjusted as XEN (O&M-II) Ravi Town in his own pay and scale with immediate effect and until further orders relieving Muhammad Raheel Ashraf of the additional charge.

Ghulam Mustafa, Assistant Director Eng/SDO (BS-17) working as SDO City sub-division was hereby assigned the additional charge to the post of SDO Data Nagar sub-division with immediate effect and until further orders while Nabeel Ahmed, sub-engineer (BS-16), working in Construction Directorate-I was hereby adjusted/readjusted as SDO Samanabad sub-division in his own pay and scale with immediate effect and until further orders in place of Zeeshan Manzoor.

Published in Daily The News on 4th August 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/695685-

SOPs violated as markets start routine operations

2020-08-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE : CLEAR violations of corona SOPs, especially drafted for business and markets by the government were witnessed here on Saturday as most markets started routine operations.

Majority of the city markets and shopping centres were the places where one can witness violations of corona SOPs while the district administration was unable to implement the SOPs.

A visit to various city markets revealed that majority of people, customers and shopkeepers were not using facemasks and sanitizers were also not being used by the shopkeepers and customers.

On the other hand, all shopping malls, big grocery stores and cash and carry stores, posh, middle and lower class markets opened and were full of public, especially women and children.

All cash and carry stores, which were earlier selling groceries, have opened their nonfood sections while other shops in the malls also opened.

“Observing social distancing is a dream, which we can see but can’t implement,” said a senior official of the district administration on anonymity. He said smart lockdown was over. Citizens became relaxed while the district administration was also nowhere to implement the SOPs, he added.

It was observed that the district administration has closed its eyes on the violations and only a marquee was sealed for violating corona SOPs as marriage halls and marquees are yet to open. Violation of one dish was also found at a function on which an FIR was lodged against the owner. A district government’s spokesman said many shops were sealed by different assistant commissioners in various city localities over violations of SOPs.

He said 130 visits were made by ACs and 16 shopkeepers were found violating SOPs and they were imposed Rs 5,000 fine.

“I am asking every citizen entering my shop to wear a mask but many customers didn’t follow my request”, said a shopkeeper at Anarkali. He said either they left the shop or said nothing will happen. He said the market committee did nothing to protect the citizens and implement the SOPs.

One can also witness long queues of vehicles on city roads, traffic jams are being witnessed as they occurred on every normal day. Ichra, Mozang Chungi, Ferozpur Road, Jail Road, Link Road Model Town, Multan Road and other city roads were full of vehicles.

In Johar Town long queues of vehicles were witnessed outside a big mall next to Expo Centre.

Ahmed, manager of a brand shop in Johar Town, said, “They have lost a large number of customers due to implementing of social distancing because customers do not wait and go to the next shop if denied entry.

Customers of small shops were not using sanitizers while there was a great rush of people in small shops at Karim Block Market, Panorama Centre, Anarkali, Liberty, Ichra, Chungi Amarsadhu, Township, Johar Town G1, Wapda Town and, etc. Hundreds of women were seen carrying their kids with them in markets against the SOPs. Shahid, a citizen shopping on Hall Road, expressed his concern over the situation and said if the situation remained the same, corona cases may start to rise.

Published in Daily The News on August 9, 2020
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/698040-

Death ratio of road accidents during lockdown in Punjab reduced by 15.34pc

2020-07-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: With the coronavirus lockdown, the death radio of road accidents has been reduced by 15.34 per cent in first four months of the current year as compared to the same period of pervious year.

The unsafe roads of the province have turned safe during the coronavirus shutdown. Similarly, provincial metropolis has also witnessed a sharp decrease of 23.59 per cent in road accidents as most of the citizens are under lockdown for the last several weeks.

Data collected from 1122 from January 1, 2020 till April 21, 2020 revealed that 68 deaths were reported in Lahore in comparison of the previous year’s 89 death during the same months.

Data showed that in Punjab, a total of 1,056 people were killed in road accidents in first four months while during the same period of the year 2020 the number reduced to 894. This clearly showed that the death rate in road accidents reduced due to the lockdown imposed in February’s last week in 2020.

The total number of road traffic accidents in Punjab in first four months of 2020 was 90,728 in which 100,420 people received injuries which were 18.44 per cent and 20.06 per cent lesser than the previous year’s accidents and injuries to citizens, respectively. Whereas in Lahore total accidents were 20,890 and injured were 20,647, which were 22.04 per cent and 25.40 per cent lesser than previous years 26797 and 27679 respectively.

So much so that in first four months of 2019 as many as 48 joy riders were killed in road accidents where as in the same period of 2020, as many as 18 joy riders who left their quarantine during Covid-19 lost their lives. In Lahore it was 2 deaths in 2019 and 2 deaths in 2020.

As the lockdown also stopped local as well as interprovincial public transportation across the province, the accident ratio of buses, vans and rickshaws were also reduced by 51.33 per cent, 51.67 per cent and 29.93 per cent respectively as compared to the previous year’s data.

Similarly, accidents of cars, bikes, tractor trolleys and trucks also reduced by 30.82 per cent, 10.83 per cent, 40.52 per cent and 41.16 per cent respectively while in Lahore this ratio reduced by 67.85 per cent, 3.38 per cent, 98.10 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

The data showed that police struggled hard to restrict the numbers of motorcyclists to come out on to roads during the lockdown but they remained on roads whereas tractor-trolleys were totally stopped in the city.

Data further showed that cases of tyre burst in Punjab in 2019 were 849 while in 2020 they were reduced to 484, which showed a reduction of 42.99 per cent while in Lahore it was 270 in 2019 and only 4 in the first four months of 2020.

This also showed that the allegations that puncture workers used to throw nails on roads to get more customers are somehow correct because majority of puncture shops were closed down in the city.

On the other hand, ratio of dead bodies brought to the graveyards in the provincial metropolis has reduced. Bashir Ahmed, in charge security Miani Sahib, while talking to The News revealed that in routine 20 to 25 bodies were brought to the biggest graveyard (Miani Sahib) before the pandemic. He said since the lockdown the number is reduced to 8 to 10 bodies.

Aslam, a grave digger of Green Town Graveyard, said only 2 bodies were brought to the graveyard in April so far. Mujahid, a grave digger in Model Town Graveyard said the number of bodies has reduced.

Spokesperson of District Administration also confirmed that there are almost 900 big and small graveyards in the provincial metropolis and number of bodies brought to these graveyards during lockdown has been reduced in comparison with routine. He said besides road accidents, deaths in other incidents have also been reduced during the lockdown.

Published in Daily The News on April 23, 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/648513-

Pioneer horticulturist objects to PHA plantation

2020-07-06T04:53:00.001-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:After allegations of unprofessional tree plantation by Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) by its own senior member, PHA’s former DG criticised recent plantation done by PHA along Orange Line Metro Train Project as well as in other city locations.

In a letter written to Punjab Chief Secretary, Muzaffar Ali Khan Kharral, Additional Director General Horticulture (r), Lahore Development Authority (LDA) pointed out unprofessional skills of PHA.

Muzaffar Ali Khan Kharral is the pioneer horticulturist of Lahore who in 1976 designed, planned and executed most of the city’s plantation. Presently, most of the well-grown old trees in the Lahore city were proposed and planted by him.

“Lahore is always famous for its gardens, parks and green belts with fascinating landscape and PHA played a vital role in maintaining the standard,” he said in his letter adding recently he observed plantation along a very prime project of PHA (Orange Line Metro Train Multan Road, Lahore).

“The selection of species of plants and their way of plantation is entirely different from the PHA’s repute. A very thick plantation will not be able to give fruitful results,” he said and maintained that he cannot imagine seeing Guava plants planted only one foot apart. The same happening is with Motia, Fig, and Roses etc.

It is pertinent to point out that most of the plants have decayed and remaining ones breathing their last in such a polluted area of traffic smoke. He said the spacing of trees/plants was imperative topic of horticulture but the executors seemed ignorant from the subject. It was all wastage of precious money of the nation and sources like labour, irrigation, transportation, plant sapling etc. etc, he said. Talking about other plantation in Lahore, he said “Whenever I enter Muslim Town Scheme to reach my house from Sheikh Zayed Hospital, It makes my blood boil to see a large number of Guava plants planted under the dense shade of beautiful trees of Beri Patta and Gul-e-Nishtar. It’s my honest opinion that these Guava trees plantation carried out against the scientific approach of ornamental horticulture,” he stated.

He said any horticulturist cannot be able to see the plantation in the central medians of Johar Town Housing Scheme and in the green belts along Lahore Branch Canal (LBC) from Jalo to Thokar Niaz Baig.

“Fig, Guava, Chinese Lemon, Jujuba (Bere) trees are planted haphazardly in the medians which depict very unskilled, un-trained, un-planned, un-pleasant and un-professional approach of this plantation,” he alleged adding selection of right species planting on the right site is the basic principle of plantation which is not available on these sites. In view of the above, it is requested that a committee of the horticulture experts may kindly be constituted to inquire into the matter and assess the loss of government exchequer. The committee may also be advised to submit their findings to enable the PHA to recover the loss. Muzaffar Kharal also sent copies of his letter to Provincial Housing Minister, secretary, PHA chairman, vice-chairman, adviser to chief minister on PHA, DG PHA, DG LDA, Imrana Tiwana of Lahore Bachao Tehreek and Ibrar Mumtaz, President Horticulture Society of Pakistan.

When contacted, a senior official of PHA confirmed receiving of the letter and said that a committee would soon be constituted to inquire into the allegations levelled by PHA’s board member and pioneer horticulturist.

Published in Daily The News on May 23, 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/662429-

New manhole covers will have zero scrap value

2020-07-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:To eliminate the theft of manhole covers, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has finally decided to replace all manhole covers with new ones made of recycled material.

This was decided in a recent meeting chaired by Wasa Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz. He said earlier 2,000 plastic manhole covers were imported and placed in various localities of the City as a pilot project.

He said he had already requested the local industrialists associated with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to invest in manufacturing of manhole covers made of recycled fiberglass having zero scrap value. “This will stop theft of manhole covers and will save precious lives in the provincial capital,” he maintained.

He stated that as Faisalabad Wasa MD he had already introduced fiberglass manhole covers in the city and for the last five years not a single manhole covers in Faisalabad has been stolen. He said the agency has also submitted the project of replacing all steel structured manhole covers of provincial metropolis to the World Bank, which appreciated Wasa for taking this innovative solution to stop loss of precious lives in the provincial metropolis.

World Bank has agreed to provide funds for this project under Punjab Cities Governance Maintenance Project. A senior officer of Wasa’s technical wing said that a single manhole cover with frame is made with heavy weight iron material and can be sold in thousands of rupees, if stolen.

“Usually drug addicts and thieves steal manhole covers with their frames and sell them to scrap dealers at the rate of iron,” he said, adding the City needed manhole covers of zero scrap value and fiberglass is the only solution.

“Theft of manhole covers is an international phenomenon and the practice can be witnessed in several mega cities of the world such as Chicago, Mumbai,” said Wasa MD. The only solution to stop this practice is replacement of the existing manhole covers with a zero scrap value covers and many modern cities have adopted various innovations in this regard,” he said, adding Wasa has finally imported 1,600 sets (manhole covers with frames), which will be delivered and placed on the manholes on all major city roads.

“Fibreglass manhole covers are fully traffic-rated and can easily bear 40-tonne weight vehicle,” the Wasa MD said, adding these covers are also maintenance-free and are fully adjustable with the atmosphere of the City.

He maintained that replacement of iron cast manhole covers with fibreglass covers will also help reduce road accidents, which occurred due to open manholes. He said fiberglass manhole covers are lighter and easier for utility workers to move and place.

Zahid Aziz claimed that many sewer and waste water systems are highly corrosive while fiberglass manhole covers and frames are perfect for the most corrosive settings found throughout municipal and industrial settings.

He revealed that fiberglass manhole covers are better for non-conductive applications and may reduce electrocution incidents during rain. He said cast iron manholes can interfere with or block radio signal transmission, which was used during de-silting of large sewer lines whereas fiberglass manhole covers offer little interference with radio frequency signals.

He said Wasa is installing SCADA system in the City and fiberglass manhole covers are an ideal fit for AMR systems, SCADA, telemetry, level monitoring, samplers, flow meters and other data acquisition devices.

“The minimum lifespan of a quality fiberglass manhole is 30+ years while a typical cast iron manhole system may require significant maintenance or replacement costs over that same period of time,” he said.

The Wasa MD directed all field staff to remain vigilant in their respective areas and immediately report uncovered manholes so that they could be covered with new fiberglass covers.

Published in Daily The News on June 1, 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/666049-

85.7pc of 161 who died of virus were 50, over 70 years

2020-07-06T04:34:00.005-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE : As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to takes its toll across the country, 85.71 per cent of 161 people, who died of the virus from March till date in Lahore, were between the age group of 50 and above 70 years.

According to data of burial of confirmed corona patients by Rescue 1122, elderly people in the provincial metropolis are at a greatest risk of the infection, serious illness and death. The data revealed that a total of 161 persons were buried by Rescue 1122 from March till date, which included 115 males and 46 females. The males made up 71.42 per cent of the dead while 28.57 per cent of them were females.

In March, only two people were buried by Rescue 1122, but in April the number went to 28, in May the deceased buried by Rescue 1122 were 66 and in June till date the citizens buried by Rescue 1122 were 65. Razia Bano, aged 90, was the eldest deceased buried by Rescue 1122 while Shehroze, aged 23, was the youngest.

When divided into age groups, three people were in the age bracket of 1 to 30 years, three in the age bracket of 30 to 40 years, 17 in the age group of 40 to 50 years, 43 in the age bracket of 50 to 60 years, 43 people were 60 to 70 years and 52 people 70 and above.

In these age brackets, two females were in age bracket of 30 to 40 years, five in the age bracket of 40 to 50 years, 8 in the age bracket of 50 to 60 years, 14 were 60 to 70 years and 17 were 70 and above. Percentage wise, the age bracket of 70 and above was the highest with 32.29, then comes the age brackets of 60 to 70 years and 50 to 60 years which were 26.7 per cent each while the age bracket of 40 to 50 years was 10.55 per cent and age brackets of 30 to 40 years and 1 to 30 years were the same, ie 1.86 per cent.

In the age brackets, females were 32.69 per cent in 70 and above years, 32.5 per cent in 60 to 70 years, 18.6 per cent in 50 to 60 years, 29.4 per cent in 40 to 50 years and 66.6 per cent in 30 to 40 years. The data further shows that a total of 161 patients died in various hospitals including 22 in Jinnah Hospital, 17 in National Hospital, 16 in Mayo Hospital, 15 in CMH, 14 in Services Hospital, 12 in Doctors Hospital, 10 each in Lahore General Hospital and University of Lahore Hospital, six in Farooq Hospital, 5 each in Ittefaq Hospital and PKLI, 4 each in Bahria International Hospital, Nawaz Sharif Hospital and homes, 3 in Hameed Latif Hospital, 2 each in Ganga Ram Hospital, Hijaz Hospital, Fatima Memorial Hospital and Bahria Orchard Hospital and 1 each in Social Security Hospital, Ghurki Hospital, Sheikh Zaed Hospital, Shalimar Hospital, Adil Hospital and Ever Care Hospital in the provincial metropolis.

The deceased were buried in various city graveyards including Miani Sahib Graveyard, Township Graveyard, DHA Phase 7 Graveyard, Usman Chowk Badami Bagh Graveyard, Kareem Block Graveyard, Valancia Graveyard, Ramgarh Graveyard Shalimar Link Road Lahore, Gulbahar Graveyard Bahria Town, Shadman Graveyard, Harbanspura Graveyard, Ichhra Graveyard, Nishat Colony Graveyard, Tajpura LDA Graveyard, Green Town Factory Graveyard, Chah Miran Graveyard, Ghazi Abad Graveyard, Firdousia Graveyard Gajjumatta Lahore, Gulshan Ravi Graveyard, Shafiqabad Graveyard Band Road, Eden Extension Graveyard, Mian Mir Graveyard, Mughalpura Graveyard near UET and Johar Town Graveyard.

Published in Daily The News on June 21, 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/675484-

Nano clay can help clean water in country

2020-07-06T04:31:00.004-07:00

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:A FRESH, clean water supply will be a reality in Pakistan’s certain regions, particularly in Southern Punjab, following the announcement of an international partnership spearheaded by the Pakistan government, alongside other key stakeholders, and driven by the University of Huddersfield.

The initiative was led by University of Huddersfield’s Senior Research Fellow Dr Muhammad Usman Ghori who has aimed to transform the water supplies in the region into affordable drinking water for the benefit of the whole population and to provide a sustainable option of raw material to fabricate healthcare products.

“It is an initiative that is much needed by a considerable population of Pakistan,” Dr Ghori said while talking with the scribe here Sunday. He said in a recent study carried out by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), it was found that a sizeable portion of the supplied water was not suitable for human consumption. The contaminated water was contributing to significant number of deaths every year and big part of Pakistan’s GDP was spent on health care of people who suffer from water-borne diseases.

He revealed that a solution to provide clean water supply is present in abundance in Pakistan’s region’s Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range in the form of raw Nano clay with properties that can be targeted for a number of health-giving applications. He said recently during a research work under University of Huddersfield, published in NATURE: Scientific Reports, explored a new source of montmorillonite in the Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range located in South Punjab. Dr Ghori explained that this raw clay required a sophisticated purification protocol to remove any undesirable substances from the clay such as lead, arsenic and crystalline silica, which could impede industrial potential and have adverse health effects. The area of South Punjab has a large dependence on agriculture and relatively low levels of industrialisation and consequently currently faces higher levels of poverty and unemployment compared with the rest of the province, he said adding an abundant supply of this largely untouched raw clay could help with economic conditions in the region so, in addition to physicochemical characterisation, this study investigated the practicality and economic feasibility of its extraction and purification for large-scale industrial applications by comparing the properties of the small-scale extracted clay to the large-scale extracted clay, and by conducting a techno-economic analysis.

“This is anticipated that the findings in this study will improve the economic condition of the region by providing employment opportunities to locals and a valuable resource for exportation,” he maintained.

Further work in collaboration with Pakistani universities and research institutes is now under way to use this natural resource for the benefit of the local people, not just in purifying the water supply, but for further industrial applications that would expand the economy of the region and provide work and industry for its people.

Originally from Sahiwal in Central Punjab, Dr Ghori studied for five years at the Bahauddin Zakariya University in the Southern Punjab city of Multan, where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

It was during his time there as a student that he became deeply concerned over the conditions that how the unhealthy water was causing harm to the poorer families in the region. He also became aware of a natural resource, readily available, that could present a sustainable and environment-friendly solution to the problems related to water. The pharmaceutical qualities of montmorillonite clay are well-known and documented, and it was the possibilities offered by this clay that made an impression on the young pharmacist. However, the prospect of helping the people would only resurface some years later after Usman Ghori had completed his PhD and subsequently his postdoctoral study at the University of Huddersfield in the UK.

It was on his appointment as a Senior Research Fellow at the University that his interest in montmorillonite returned and he applied to the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) for a sandpit grant administered by the UK Research and Innovation, GCRF grants are designed support cutting-edge research that will address challenges faced by developing countries.

Dr Ghori said that despite the clay deposits being very accessible and easily mineable, they are government property and to ensure further funding the idea needed to involve Pakistan authorities at all levels.

To establish this strategic partnership, Dr Ghori first shared his vision and initiative with the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom Muhammad Nafees Zakaria, who played an instrumental role in establishing research links in Pakistan.

Now, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed that will initiate a strategic partnership to develop a network led by the University of Huddersfield with the support of the Pakistan government which will also include universities in Pakistan.

Dr Ghori thanked Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Minister for Science and Technology Fawwad Chaudhry for their support and facilitating him on his project.

In a letter to Dr Ghori, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawwad Chaudhry also felicitated him and the Huddersfield University Team over attaining a milestone in the field of industrial science. He expressed his “contentment and happiness at the signing of MOU by Huddersfield University with Pakistan Council for Research on Water Resources (PCRWR) and five Pakistani universities. He saw it as a significant step towards collaboration between educational institutions of Pakistan and the United Kingdom involving research.

Commending Dr Ghori’s work, Fawwad Chaudhry urged Pakistani scientists, technology professionals and scholars to look towards Pakistan, which holds enormous opportunities in diverse areas. Under Prime Minister Imran Khan, high importance has been attached to the emerging technologies and many policy initiatives have been taken, he underscored.

Published in Daily The News on June 22, 2020

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/676031-

Mass recruitment scam surfaces in LWMC

2020-07-06T04:28:00.001-07:00

Mass recruitment scam surfaces in LWMC

By Ali Raza

LAHORE:The fate of the ongoing jobs of over 4,500 sanitary workers is unclear as an alleged scandal of mass recruitment against bribe and favouritism hit the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC).

Some two months back, LWMC advertised in various newspapers about recruitment on which hundreds of thousands of applicants applied. However, LWMC Chairman Riaz Hameed announced that the company would first re-recruit its existing staff and sanitary workers and no age limit was fixed for the existing workers.

In response to the company’s advertisement, all workers, including those who were hired by company’s two Turkish contractors through third party, also applied. The company in first phase started recruiting those workers, who were on its own payroll and were recruited through a company named Skill Hub. These workers were around 2,400 out of which 2,100 were rehired and recently they started receiving appointment letters.

On the other hand, over 4,731 sanitary workers hired by Turkish contractors through third party companies namely Salman and Co and Zohaib and Co were asked to stop coming on duty as their hiring was still pending.

Astonishingly, in the first phase, a good number of sanitary workers of the third party of Turkish contractors were also given appointment letters on which allegations of receiving bribe/favouritism by company’s HR and Operations department started to surface. Complaints in this regard were also received by company’s senior management.

Following the complaints that over 1,000 sanitary workers were recruited and it was alleged that many of them paid Rs50,000 to Rs200,000 for their reappointment, company’s Deputy Managing Director (DMD) held a departmental inquiry.

Meanwhile, LWMC Managing Director recently made a scrutiny committee to resolve the issue. The letter, a copy of which was available with the scribe, stated that with reference to advertisement against applications on various vacancies in LWMC projects of Lahore and Multan, a three-member scrutiny committee was constituted. The members were HR General Manager Farrukh Butt, Senior Manager Ops Murtaza Ch and Manager GIS Shoaib Dar.

As per the letter, the committee will revisit the whole recruitment process and will certify whether the process was taken up as per rules, if not, will specify the areas where act has been committed, the committee will go through all the provisions of the approval paper got from LWMC CEO and will check whether all the conditions have been fulfilled if not followed it will be specified.

The committee will also take into consideration that attendance of cut-off month of March 2020 has been duly considered for recruitment or there are violations of the policy, the committee will check whether changes brought into different lists have some malafide or not and any other matter related to the recruitment will be taken up by the committee.

Meanwhile, the management also constituted an inquiry committee headed by company’s Chief Financial Officer to inquire into the allegations of bribe and favouritism. This committee will submit its report within the next seven days, said General Manager HR while talking with the scribe. He said the scrutiny committee and inquiry committee will work separately and were constituted to ensure transparency in the company.

LWMC DMD while talking with the scribe said that complete inquiry would be done into the allegations of corruption and no one would be pardoned if found guilty. The company’s chairman said no worker would be left alone and the company would hire all sanitary workers through third parties of the Turkish contractors.

Published in Daily The News on June 27, 2020

LWMC performance down, expenses up

2019-09-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

LAHORE:

Performance of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) on the recent event of Eidul Azha reduced drastically as the waste lifted by the company reduced by 56.59 percent whereas the expenses increased by 98.3 percent in comparison with the previous two years.

Data collected by The News revealed that in the year 2017, the company other than its Turkish contractors had lifted 3,852.3 ton waste, in 2018, it lifted 4,579.98 ton and on the recent event the company lifted only 1,987.865 ton waste, which is 48.39 percent and 56.59 percent less than the previous two years respectively.

Similarly, the breakup of expenses incurred on Eidul Azha in the year 2017 were Rs119 million, in 2018 the company spent Rs194 million while in the year 2019, the company spent Rs236 million, which is 98.319 percent more than the year 2017 and 21.649 percent more than t

he year 2018. The further breakup of expenses revealed that the company in the year 2017 spent Rs3,447,234 on purchase of lunch boxes for the staffers, in the year 2018 it spent Rs3,099,579 and in the year 2019 it spent Rs4,717,500 which is 52.198 percent more than the previous year’s expenses. Funds spent on hiring of tents and camps for collection points in 2017 was Rs1,234,800, in 2018 it reduced to Rs631,500 and in 2019 it again rose to Rs1,311,475, which is 107.676 percent more than the previous year’s figures. Like every year, LWMC got land on rent and paid Rs98,000 for it in the year 2019 and 2018 whereas in 2017 it paid Rs90,000 for the same. The present expenses are 8.88 percent more than the expenses incurred in 2017. Similarly, Rs2,362,500 were spent on hiring of pickup for collection of offals whereas in 2018, this expense was Rs1,942,884 and the recent increase was 21.597 percent than the previous year.

Data also revealed that in 2019, LWMC spent Rs1,631,500 on rental machinery whereas in 2018, it spent Rs14,771,980 and the recent increase in the expenses is 10.45 percent more than the previous year and 22.45 percent extra than the expenses incurred in the year 2017 on the same head. Astonishingly, LWMC also purchased soil during the Eidul Azha operations and in 2017, it paid Rs2,692,000, Rs3,096,650 in the year 2018 and Rs5,200,000 in the year 2019, which is 93.164 percent more than the year 2017 and 67 percent more than the year 2018. Awareness material for Eidul Azha was purchased for Rs10,100,700 in 2019, which is 69.67 percent more than the expenses incurred in 2017 on the same head which were Rs5,953,080.

Similarly expenses incurred on rental services at weighbridge in the year 2017 were Rs784,000 and in the year 2019 these expenses skyrocketed to Rs2,000,000, which were 155.102 percent more than the previous year. The company also incurred Rs225,500 on purchase of Phenyl and Lime for Eidul Azha whereas in 2017, this expense was Rs88,000, which means that the company spent 156.25 percent more this year for the same head.

On the other hand, data showed that total waste lifted in four days of Eid holidays was 54,510.62 ton out of which 24,211 ton was lifted by Ozpak, 25,637.815 ton by Albayrak, 2,673.44 by other sources and 1,987.856 by LWMC. The performance of LWMC’s operation wing can be gauged from the fact that it only lifted 1,987.865 ton of waste during the Eid holidays despite having a huge fleet of machinery as well as manpower. Data showed that on day 1, the company’s operation wing lifted 264.52 ton, on day 2, it lifted 507.555 ton, on day 3, it lifted 734.19 ton and on day 4, it lifted 481.6 ton waste. The performance of LWMC’s operation wing decreased by 56.59 percent if compared with the LWMC’s performance of the year 2018, during which it had lifted 4,579.98 ton of waste from the city road.

When contacted, LWMC Chairman Riaz Hameed said that he had already taken notice of the low performance of the company’s operation wing. He said a detailed inquiry would also be conducted to investigate how expenses increased and why company’s own performance decreased. General Manager (Operations) LWMC said that he was not authorised to give any statement to the press. He, however, declared the figures false and fabricated.

Spokesperson says performance better than previous years. The LWMC spokesperson said it had collected about 5,200 ton waste from which 1,900 ton directly transported to landfill site whereas 3,200 tons of waste was transported to transfer station for efficient waste clearance from area. This is higher than as compared to 4,580 ton waste in 2018. However, in order to clear the area quickly and to provide better services to the citizens of Lahore, the transfer stations are used for this purpose. This local dumping of waste has been worked out to achieve maximum waste clearance within time base targets. It was also evident that the targets of last year had been surpassed before 10pm on August 14, 2019 (3rd day of Eid). In this way, LWMC provided better services to the citizens and also crossed the waste collection figure of 2018.

This was operational strategic management for effective and efficient waste management during Eid which is widely be acknowledged by all walks of life and media. Appreciate ceremonies are being organised, now a days, in all corners of Lahore for the Workers of LWMC. The above figures have been collected from independent agency "IBCM".

Weblink: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/518414-lwmc-performance-down-expenses-up

Lohari Gate to be conserved as tourist site

2018-06-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: After successful conservation and rehabilitation of Delhi Gate, Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has planned to renovate Lohari Gate, considered to be one of the earliest gates of the old Lahore city.
Recently, the authority got the gate vacated from a 40 years old illegal occupation of two families, including Fazal and Rana Sajjad, who were living inside the gate. Officials said all the gates of old Lahore, excluding Roshnai Gate, were transferred to the WCLA in 2014 and majority of them were under illegal occupation and encroachment.
Riffat Pasha, Deputy Director Building Control, WCLA said the department carried out an operation against illegal occupants on Thursday night. “We had been negotiating with these illegal occupants for the past several months,” he said, adding the families were not ready to vacate the historical monument and putting illegal demands.Tanya Qureshi, senior WCLA official said the authority will be setting up the building control cell inside the rooms of this gate to carry out similar operations. She said all gates of Lahore would be vacated from illegal occupation but in a phased manner. Notices have been issued to all illegal occupants residing in other gates of Lahore, she maintained.
Giving historical details of Lohari Gate, she said this gate was named after the city Lahore but according to some schools of thought, numerous “Lohars” (blacksmiths) had their shops just outside the gate, for which the gate became popular as Lohari gate.
“Some historians and writers are of the view that early in the 11th century, the city was badly affected by the wars between Mahmud of Ghazna and Raja Jai Pal. At one time, it was even unpopulated. When Malik Ayaz was appointed viceroy of North India, he made Lahore, the seat of government. It was at that time, when the people started inhabiting this part and since then the gate was recognised as Lahori Gate,” she maintained.
Tanya said there was also a controversy on the name of the gate as many called it “Lahori” and many termed it as “Lohari”. She said the marble slab placed on the gate is strange too as it bears both the names besides showing the details of reconstruction of the gate in Hindi and English languages.
Lohari or Lahori Gate was initially built during the period of Mughal Emperor Akbar but some historians said the gate existed in Malik Ayaz’s times as well. During the Sikh riots the gate got smashed and was rebuilt in British period with small bricks on the same old style. A senior archeological expert of the WCLA said the claim could be verified by excavating the foundations. He said as per history, Mughal Emperor Akbar was the one who had built a fortified wall around the city with 13 gates, and Lohari was one of the gates.
The gate still has wooden arches. The rooftop is spacious with a podium in the centre. WCLA’s experts said that before the Sikh era, the red light area of the city was located inside the Lohari Gate and most of the rich dancers had built beautiful Havelis there.
Chowk Matti was also named after a known dancer “Matti Bai” however with the passage of time, the red light area was shifted to Chowk Jhanda, then Tibbi Gali and eventually the present area was established. The experts added that at some places we still find beautiful Havelis which were originally the dancing houses owned by different dancers. One famous Haveli which is now under the use of cobblers is the Noori Haveli. It was also a dancing house of “Noori Bai”.
Near the entrance of this gate, is Muslim Masjid named after a Muslim scholar Maulana Muhammad Bakhsh Muslim while city’s biggest gem stone market is also situated near the gate from where one can find a variety of stones or gems. The biggest optical market of Lahore is also located inside this gate.
The gate is also famous for its traditional Lahori food spots. In old times, the gate itself had a food street due to frequent visitors.
Director General WCLA Kamran Lashari said the authority was aimed to restore and conserve the gates of Lahore and Lohari Gate is one of the most important gates. “We will set a re-use plan of the gates of Lahore so that these turn into tourist sites,” he said and concluded that the authority had already removed encroachments from Delhi Gate and now it is being used as tourism and souvenir centre.

Published in Daily The News on October 22, 2016https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/159070-Lohari-Gate-to-be-conserved-as-tourist-site

Rallies, vehicular pollution behind smog

2018-06-25T06:56:00.002-07:00

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: Protest demonstrations and rallies carried out in the provincial capital during the last three to four days have caused hours long traffic jams, which resulted in extraordinary increase in vehicular pollution and produced acid rain phenomenon in the provincial capital on Wednesday.

An investigation done by Environment Protection Department (EPD), Punjab into the smog and acid rain incidents occurred in Lahore on Wednesday revealed that hours long traffic jams, use of substandard fuel by industrial units and burning of rice husk in the surrounding areas of Lahore were the main reasons behind this unnatural phenomenon.
Naseem-ur-Rehman, director and spokesman for EPD, said during the last three to four days the provincial capital had witnessed very long hour traffic jams, which were caused by rallies and protests especially on The Mall and surrounding areas. He said the weather had already become wet and a blanket of particulate matter was present in the skies due to which the vehicular exhausts remained stagnant in the air. This has resulted in acid rain, he said, adding the phenomenon had already been witnessed in various metropolitan cities across the world. Another big reason of increased air pollution was use of substandard fuel used by steel furnaces in Lahore, EPD investigation said, adding out of over 300 steel furnaces some 125 were using substandard fuel, including rubber tyres, waste plastic and other similar items and smoke of these units had mixed with the vehicular pollution.

Most of these furnaces are operating around GT Road and their smoke automatically spread in the surroundings of The Mall as well as major urban areas of Lahore like Railway Station, Davis Road, Anarkali, Walled City, Akbari Mandi, Garhi Shahu, Mcleod Road, Data Darbar, Chauburji and etc.

Similarly, particulate matter (dust) raised from the ongoing construction work of orange line metro train project especially from the abandoned part of the project also played a major role in creating the outer blanket, which blocked all other gases in the air and didn’t allow the vehicular pollution to escape in the air. Taking immediate measures, Provincial Secretary EPD Capt ® Saif Anjum has directed all field teams to strictly monitor industrial units especially steel furnaces on GT Road and ensure that no one should use substandard fuel. The secretary also directed the traffic police officials to ensure smooth traffic flow in the provincial capital. Naseem-ur-Rehman said that EPD secretary had also contacted representatives of industrial sector and requested them to ensure use of wet scrubbers in relevant industries. He said as the humidity had increased in the city, any kind of pollution would stay in the air and would put adverse effects on human population.

He said the EPD had also requested the general public to minimize use of vehicles for two or three days while motorists were advised to use face masks. He said field teams in Gujranwala, Kasur, Faisalabad and Multan were also directed to remain vigilant and take strict action against polluters.

Published in Daily The News on November 04, 2016

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/162155-Rallies-vehicular-pollution-behind-smog