Good fences make good neighbours,” says Raza Ali, a resident of Johar Town. He’s talking about the freshly fenced tract of land close to his home at Munir Chowk.

The fence was erected after the Lahore Development Authority dismantled shanties that had been home to many gypsies for years. The community had turned this once-vacant plot into their settlement of sorts, and constructed shelters that hid a network of rooms and toilets built with bricks. They had water and power supplies too.

Ali says he is a “humanist,” but banishing the gypsies from the area has brought relief. “There were frequent reports of theft and robbery in the neighborhood. Now we feel safer,” he says.

For years, such settlements were a common sight in Johar Town. Residents say they had become used to their presence. The ongoing anti-encroachment operation launched by the LDA has brought a sea change. Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Authority has accelerated its efforts to reclaim state land from illegal occupants across Lahore.

Other than the gypsies, official land had long been under the possession of many traders who enjoyed the patronage of various mafias.

The operation, led by Director General Tahir Farooq, has led to the retrieval of more than 800 kanals in prime localities such as Johar Town. Asked about it, Farooq shares video evidence.

Locals like Ali are slowly becoming familiar with the fenced plots. The fences, topped with boards that announce LDA’s ownership of the land, are welcomed by many. “It feels like finally order has been restored,” Ali says. “These [fences] are a sign that the authorities are serious about taking action against encroachments.”

The anti-encroachment drive is massive in scale. The Authority has reclaimed over 850 kanals of land from illegal occupants across Lahore. In Johar Town alone, 280 kanals have been retrieved. More land has been reclaimed in Sabzazar Scheme, China Scheme in Gujjarpura and Township. The reclaimed land, valued at billions of rupees, is being fenced to prevent new encroachments.

The operation hasn’t been easy. Farooq admits that while reclaiming land is a huge task, maintaining possession is an even greater challenge. To address this issue, the LDA has not only fenced the land but also upgraded its enforcement squad. The freshly reconstituted team is armed with vehicles and motorbikes. They are better prepared to tackle encroachments and unplanned settlements than ever before.

The LDA has not only fenced the land but also upgraded its enforcement squad. The restructured team is equipped with vehicles and is better prepared to tackle encroachments and unplanned settlements.

Despite the progress, the operation has found many a critic. They argue that the displaced gypsies, who had lived there all their lives, were forced to vacate their homes and leave their livelihoods behind. The settlements, while illegal, were in many cases their only refuge in the city.

“It’s a difficult situation to be in,” says Ali. “My heart goes out to them. At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the relief that has come with the operation.”

Dismantling illegal settlements without providing alternative housing solutions to the grieved party does little to address the root cause of encroachment. Most displaced people lack access to basic amenities like water and electricity. Now that they have been evicted, they will need to settle somewhere else in much the same way.

According to Qaisar Abbas, a town planner, the story of Johar Town’s transformation is a tale of progress vs displacement, and of relief and loss. “For now, the fences are a symbol of change — both being welcomed and questioned.”

For the LDA, it’s part of a broader initiative to crack down on land mafias and illegal constructions across the Punjab. To quote Farooq, much of the retrieved land was under the control of organised criminals. In some cases, the encroachers used religious structures to resist eviction. “They built places of worship on illegally occupied land in order to complicate official operations,” he says.

“But the government is determined. We’ve carried out the operation without succumbing to political pressure.”

Farooq says that he has been personally visiting the sites, and regularly monitoring the progress. The retrieved land is being prepared for development, with plans to create residential and commercial plots. The LDA has already begun advertising these plots for auction, aiming to put the land to productive use. This way, the authority will be relieved of constant checking of the land and ensuing anti-encroachment drives.

He also speaks of an internal accountability process wherein the officials allegedly involved in facilitating the land grabbers are being identified. The introduction of balloting for plot allocation is one of the many measures being taken to check corruption.

Ahsan Malik is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship