LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has announced a significant change in how penalties are calculated for property owners involved in transfer and No Objection Certificate (NOC) cases, offering considerable financial relief to citizens across the city.
Under the revised policy, penalties will now be calculated based on the property rate at the time of the original plot allotment, rather than the current District Collector (DC) rates. This change marks a notable departure from the previous method, which many property owners found to be financially burdensome.
Previously, plot owners applying for NOCs or property transfers were charged heavy penalties calculated by including access area adjustments and applying current market rates, significantly increasing the financial burden on applicants.
Citizens had repeatedly raised concerns that they were being subjected to excessive fees during transfer and approval processes, even in situations where they were not directly responsible for discrepancies in land measurements.
Under the revised policy, any increase or decrease in the access area will now be assessed using historical rates from the year the plot was originally allotted. Officials believe this adjustment will bring greater fairness to the valuation process and reduce disputes between applicants and the authority.
The decision was taken following special working sessions conducted by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq and the Additional Director General (Housing), resulting in the preparation of a new policy framework. The policy has since been approved by the LDA Governing Body, and official minutes have been issued to implement the decision.
The reform is expected to benefit a large number of property owners in Lahore who have long faced disproportionate charges when seeking routine administrative approvals from the authority.
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