visit to the Lahore Development Authority’s office is notoriously very frustrating. Visitors are usually prepared for the arduous journey that awaits them at the LDA office door. Hence, they try to keep stacks of documents with them, expecting potential objections from the officials, and anticipating another couple of rounds before they can obtain their desired documents.

For Aslam, a resident of Mughalpura, however, the experience turned out to be pleasantly different. On August 20, he reached the LDA office with the purpose of getting the building map approved for his new house in the LDA City. Though he was ready to face any inconveniences, he was surprised to find that the map approval process had been digitised.

An official asked him not to wait in the hall and instead check in at the E-Khidmat cell upstairs where he’d be guided through the online process. Aslam complied. Eventually, the officials at the one-window cell set up a profile for him, helping him scan and upload all necessary documents, including his land possession letter and the AutoCAD file created by his architect.

As it was the inaugural day of LDA’s online building plan approval project, the staff was particularly nice and vigilant, and tried to make sure everything went smoothly.

There were a few glitches, though. Aslam was told that he did not possess a copy of his land possession letter, so he had to call his folks at home and get the documents required. But, only about an hour later, his case was ready for a site visit.

The officials walked him through the site, using Google Earth maps. The site visit was quick, as no prior constructions on the land allotted to Aslam were detected. Next, he was issued the challan for LDA’s processing fee. He paid the fee through a mobile banking app, and soon after, his file had been handed over to the competent authority for final approval.

“On average, we take a day to approve a building plan request — that is, if all documents are ready,” he says. “The process can sometimes be completed within a couple of hours only.”

Reportedly, the LDA has initiated the project on the directives of the CM Punjab, in order to allow citizens to apply for building map approvals from the comfort of their homes. The digitisation process precludes the need for the public to make repeated visits to government offices, endure long queues, face inconsistent information, and put up with the commission/ agent mafia.

Talking to TNS, the director general of LDA, Tahir Farooq, says: “On average, it takes a day to get the building plan approval — that is, if all documents are ready. The process can sometimes be completed within a couple of hours only.”

He reveals that since the launch of the project, the LDA has received 324 applications, with 229 cases reaching the challan issuance stage. Of these, 119 applicants submitted the challans, and 116 maps were approved.

Attiqur Rehman, a town planner and deputy director of the E-Khidmat portal, says the new system empowers the officials. “They can access virtual data and do their work from anywhere, at anytime,” he says, adding that an applicant must have all necessary documents ready before starting the online process.

The key documents required include an attested copy of the applicant’s CNIC; possession letter issued by the LDA; transfer/ allotment letter issued by the LDA; sub-division/ amalgamation letter (if applicable); forms A and B (if applicable); affidavit on stamp paper; basement affidavit (if applicable); undertaking for damages on stamp paper; building plans; a valid NOC and building period from the LDA; and vetted structure drawings and certificate from a structural engineer (for frame structures).

According to Farooq, the previous system required the applicants to make multiple visits to the LDA office. “We’ve made all physical interaction redundant,” he declares. “We are not entertaining any case brought to us physically.”

his shift to digital not only simplifies the process for the citizens but also allows the LDA to monitor their officials’ performance more effectively. As Farooq puts it, “Technology allows us to see how many hours a file stays at an official’s virtual desk.”

“Since they know they are being monitored, the officials have shown zero pendency in this regard.”

However, despite these advancements, the LDA is faced with some challenges, typically resulting from a lack of public awareness. Many applicants land at the office without any understanding of the digital process. The staff at the one-window setup tries to assist those who are computer illiterate, ensuring that everyone benefits from the new system.

“This is just the beginning,” the DG LDA exclaims. “We plan to digitise land records and make all processes online, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement.”

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship