LAHORE:Internal Accountability Bureau (IAB) of the Punjab Housing Department has started an inquiry into the alleged mega corruption scam unearthed in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) recently.
The inquiry was started by IAB after The News carried the news of this alleged mega scandal where several buildings were commercialised on major roads of Johar Town years before the roads were declared commercial roads.
Sources in LDA’s Town Planning wing told The News that in the recent alleged mega scam, discussed in the last Authority Meeting included Plot No. 397, 398 and 399 BlockJ3, Johar Town on Southern By-pass Road (from Canal Bank Road towards ShaukatKhanam Hospital) and commercial letter was issuance dated 08-01-2015. Sources said a fee of Rs9,664,000/- was paid against Plot No 397, Rs100,000/- against Plot No 398 and Rs50,000/-against Plot No 399 whereas fee as per prevailing DC rate was around Rs46,705,776.
Giving more details, sources said Plot No. 10 and 11 Block 01, Johar Town on Khayaban-e-Firdousi were issued a commercial letter dated on 08-01-2015 against a fee of Rs6,105,000 whereas Fee as per prevailing DC rate was around Rs27,758,370.
Similarly, Plot No 257 Block R2, Johar Town situated on Khayaban-e-Firdousi was issued a commercial letter dated 08-01-2015 against a fee of Rs3,264,000 whereas fee as per prevailing DC rate was around Rs15,357,228. Sources said a commercial letter was issued on 16-10-2014 to Plot No 15, 34/G, 34/H, 34/J, 34/K and 34/L block R2 Johar Town against a fee of Rs7,232,000. They said only 15 R2 abuts on Khayaban-e-Firdousi while rest of the plots falls on internal road and as per notification dated 02-09-2024 only plot No 15-R2 abuts on Khayaban-e-Firdousi and can be commercialised only. The present DC rate fee of this commercial building was around Rs15,071,000.
Sources in Housing Department claimed that the IAB has summoned the Chief Town Planner-II and Director TP concerned to the housing department office where they were asked different questions about the alleged mega scam for several hours. Sources said the IAB directed the above mentioned officers to come again on today with relevant record.
Housing Department sources said the IAB will also check record of random buildings in different zones of Town Planning wing especially major commercial hubs like MM Alam Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Garden Town, Johar Town, Canal Bank Road, Defence Road, Pine Avenue, Raiwind Road and etc to find any similar cases.
Sources claimed that the IAB will also physically check random buildings in Pink, Light Pink and Blue zones of Gulberg as there were alleged complaints of violation of permissible use as well as building bylaws and many buildings have covered their side and back spaces after getting completion certificates from LDA.
Provincial Secretary Housing Noorul Amin Mengal while talking to The News said that he has ordered the IAB to conduct a comprehensive inquiry of the case. He said as per the vision of the Chief Minister Punjab no leniency will be showed to any kind of corruption.
Earlier, Director General LDA Tahir Farooq told The News that he has also constituted a special committee to investigate the matter. He said forensic audit of random commercial hubs will also be carried out to find any similar cases and those involved will be punished.
