Issues facing industries in RUDA area to be identified: RDA chief

LAHORE: No industry will be sealed until and unless the recommendations finalized by the committee jointly formed by the LCCI and RUDA. It was stated by the Chief Operating Officer of Ravi Urban Development Authority (RDA) Brigadier Mansoor Ahmed Janjua (retd) during a meeting at LCCI.

He said that a joint committee will be formed in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) to prepare a comprehensive report on the issues and challenges faced by industries in the RUDA area. Based on this report, future planning will be carried out.

LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol, Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President of Saarc Chamber Mian Anjum Nisar, former LCCI President Muhammad Ali Mian, Executive Committee members Omar Sarfaraz, Irfan Qureshi, Syed Hasan Raza were also present in the meeting.

Brig Mansoor Ahmed Janjua (retd) said that the objective of the RUDA is to transform the area around Lahore into a city with modern facilities.

He explained that work is ongoing on the restoration of the Ravi River, construction of a 46-kilometer river bund, 377 kilometers of roads, 87 kilometers of Metrobus routes, development of areas on both sides of the river, 11% blue infrastructure, eight wastewater treatment plants, bridges, dams, and channelization projects. He assured that the RUDA will fully cooperate with LCCI to address the problems of industries in the Saggian area.

LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol said that industries in the Saggian area have been facing uncertainty over the past few months. He noted that the RUDA has periodically sent notices to property holders and factory owners, asking them to pay 20 percent RDA charges based on the current DC rates and to commercialize the area.

He argued that this area was developed under a self-help model, properties were purchased at very low prices, and it still remains underdeveloped. He questioned how 20 to 30-foot pathways are being commercialized under these laws.

He added that lands purchased for 12 to 15 lakh rupees per kanal are now being asked to pay 75 to 85 lakh rupees per kanal according to current DC rates, which is impossible for most people. The area primarily consists of cottage industries and small factories that provide livelihoods for millions of families.

Faheem ur Rehman Saigol further stated that the RUDA’s plan to acquire riverbank lands has created uncertainty for property owners there as well. Market rates in the area have increased significantly over the past two years, and people invested their savings in these properties, so the RDA project has caused anxiety among local residents.

Vice President Saarc Chamber Mian Anjum Nisar said that RUDA was established only a few years ago, while industries in the area have been operating for decades under a self-help model. He argued that new laws should protect the rights of existing industries, while only new industries should be subject to new regulations.

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