LHC suspends operation of master plan 2050 for Lahore

• “These projects pose a threat to economy,” the LHC.
• Counsel said government attempted to validate Ruda illegally
• He said LDA failed to consider devastating impact.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday suspended the operation of master plan 2050 for the provincial metropolis Lahore.

Hearing a petition against the city’s master plan, Justice Shahid Karim observed that the random and aimless development projects of the government had made breathing difficult for the citizens.

“These projects pose a threat to the economy of the country,” the judge observed.

Advocate Shahzad Shaukat, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted before the court that the approval of the master plan 2050 by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) was clearly a managed affair and had been designed to extend undue benefits to land mafia and property developers.

He said the LDA failed to consider the devastating impact it was likely to have on the already deteriorated environment of Lahore.

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He stated that the master plan, which was to define how Lahore division would look like in the coming years, had actually left the people of Lahore at the whims of the land developers.

He pointed out that the master plan envisaged reduction in the green area of Lahore despite its depleting air quality index (AQI). He said the AQI of Lahore deteriorated to an average of 10.7 percent each year causing all kinds of pulmonary diseases to its population and burdening the health facilities.

Advocate Shaukat argued that the impugned master plan was a classic example of urbanization which would block any effective response to calamities especially flood and human life would be at risk.

The counsel said the provincial government attempted to validate the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) illegally and gave a legal status to it despite a 2021 judgment of the LHC against the authority.

He asked the court to set aside the mast plan and restrain the respondents including the Ruda from dispossessing the petitioners from the land in question.

Justice Karim suspended the implementation of the master plan 2050 and sought replies from the respondents within two weeks.