IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL REGULATIONS IN LAHORE – PAKISTAN; A STEP TOWARDS HEALTHY BUILTENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Rules and regulations are framed for the effective implementation of development plans. These development plans are prepared for different areas to achieve healthy built environment. The regulations direct the local planning/development authorities to prepare plans at the local level.The present study focuses on the development trends and development control regulations prevailing in the second biggest city of Pakistan namely Lahore that has a population of more than 5-million. The city is spatially growing haphazardly irrespective of the presence of numerous development agencies like Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Local Government Department Offices, Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA). These agencies at local level are specifically established to streamline the development and ensure smooth implementation of building and development control regulations in the city. These local authorities are given special powers to implement the building and development control regulations 2005 along with modifications made afterwards with its true letter and spirit. The enforcing agencies tried to implement the development control regulations in the city to achieve smooth and planned development necessary for healthy built environment. Apart from all such measures, this thickly populated city; Lahore, is still facing numerous problems and expanding without any planning. This paper reviews the current development control regulations practiced in Lahore Metropolitan area and highlight the loopholes present in its effective implementation. At end few recommendations are made those may guide local planning authorities especially struggling to achieve the objective of healthy built environment for the city of Lahore.