Islamabad, Oct 14: LDA to Implement Eco-Friendly Infrastructure Upgrades in Gulberg. According to a report published on October 14, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is scheduled to begin a sustainable development program for the Gulberg region with an estimated budget of PKR 3.306 billion.
According to specifics, this project, which is in line with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision, should be finished in six months. The idea was formally approved at a recent meeting of the LDA governing council. As the provincial capital of Punjab and the second-largest city in Pakistan, Lahore faces enormous hurdles in managing rapid urbanization while guaranteeing sustainable growth, the working paper emphasized.
Enhancing Lahore’s urban infrastructure’s livability, sustainability, and resilience is the goal of the LDA’s sustainable cities and communities development effort. The district of Gulberg, which is severely affected by smog and environmental deterioration as a result of extensive business activity and high-rise buildings, will be the focus.
Gulberg has undergone significant development since its reclassification in 2012, turning into a major source of income because to land-use modifications and the approval of high-rise residential and commercial structures.
In an interview, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq listed the project’s main components, which include the installation of categorized recycling and rubbish bins, bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and roadside plants and green areas.
Solar-powered streetlights, roadside vending machines, rainwater harvesting wells, tactile paving for people with disability, and asphalt/PCC repairs for damaged pavements are some other environmentally friendly initiatives. To improve road safety, pedestrian and traffic safety furniture will also be installed.
According to Farooq, the plan was brought to the attention of the LDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) during its August 5, 2024, meeting. The project received PKR 3.306 billion from the fiscal year 2024–25 budget under the “Sustainable Development Growth Programme in Lahore City” after the governing council approved the DWP’s recommendation.
There will be no further financial requests made to the Punjab government; the LDA will cover the whole cost of the project. After obtaining the necessary formal and procedural approvals, work will start.
