LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority is set to launch anti-encroachment operations in major housing schemes under its control in the city from Monday (today). The residents who have been using greenbelts for parking of vehicles by erecting iron fencing, sheds, ramps or concrete floors have been warned to either demolish these encroachments voluntarily or face operations from the teams reaching in theirareas,Dawnhas learnt.

On the other hand, the city-wide antiencroachment operations are separately underway by the teams, headed by the respective assistant commissioners (ACs) in all 10 tehsils of Lahore, according to a senior official of the district administration.

`The teams have been constituted to launch operations from April 14 (today), LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said while talking toDawnon Sunday.

The housing schemes, owned and maintained by the LDA wherein the operations will be launched are Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazar, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Johar Town, Samanabad, Faisal Town, Gulberg, Township, New Muslim Town and Shadman.

`We gave seven days to the residents to voluntarily remove their encroachments.

But most didn`t follow the instructions, forcing us to launch operations,` Mr Farooqsaid, requesting the residents of all schemes in the LDA controlled area to better do this work on their own before the arrival of the anti-encroachment squads in their streets.

`The residents must take this message seriously,` he warned.

To a question, the DG said the operations would continue till clearance of streets and roads from all sorts of encroachments as no timeframe had been devised in this regard.

Mr Farooq said the banners inscribed with information about operations have also been placed in all housing schemes.He said he had also directed the engineering teams to complete remodelling-related civil works at major city markets, including Johar Town`s G-1 Market, as soon as possible to get rid of traffic congestion and environmental issues.

On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza says the city administra-tion has almost cleared all major roads from all sorts of encroachments and there are no traffic-congestion related issues. He further says that the operations are still underway in all parts of the city; however, admitting the fact of illegal parking lots in the city, especially the Lower Mall (near Aiwan-eAdl).

`There is an illegal parking lot in front of Aiwan-e-Adl. And due to this the traffic remains choked there. For this we are considering a proposal to shift this parking to the Baba Ground. And after doing so, there would be no traffic issue on this road,` the DC explained.

PRICE CONTROL: The city admin teams led, by assistant commissioners and price control magistrates, took strict actions resulting in the registration of 25 new cases (FIRs) against the violators, arrest of 20 individualsforproßteering,andissuance of30 warnings to ensure compliance.

Furthermore, fines exceeding PKR 200,000 were imposed also and 10 shops were sealed for violations of price regulations. Alongside enforcement, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Musa Raza confirmed the release of an official report detailing measures to reduce and stabilise the prices of various food commodities. He claimed that the prices had been reduced for items including brinjal, cauliflower and Chinese garlic. Stability has been achieved and maintained for the prices of potatoes, cabbage, and 16 other vegetables. Similarly, the prices for several fruits such as apples, bananas, kinnows and pomegranates and dates are stable, providing consistency for consumers.

`Efforts are underway to gradually bring down the prices of chicken meat and other essential food items,` the DC said in a statement on Sunday.