LDA announces major relief for plot owners in access area penalty cases

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has introduced a new policy offering significant relief to defaulters in cases related to access area penalties.

Under the revised policy, charges will now be calculated based on the property rates applicable at the time of plot allotment, instead of the current DC rates. The move is expected to substantially reduce the financial burden on plot owners.

The policy was formulated after detailed work by the Director General of LDA and the Additional DG Housing. It addresses longstanding concerns raised by citizens regarding excessive penalties.

Previously, heavy penalties were imposed using current rates by including access area discrepancies in cases involving No Objection Certificates (NOC) or property transfers. This often led to increased costs, even in situations where plot owners claimed they were not at fault.

Citizens had complained of undue financial strain due to additional charges during NOC issuance and transfer processes.

According to the new policy, whether the access area is less or more, the rates from the year of plot allotment will be applied instead of present-day valuations.

Following approval by the LDA Governing Body, official minutes of the policy have also been issued, paving the way for its implementation.