The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has announced it will conduct a comprehensive review of the Lahore Division Master Plan-2050, suspended earlier this year by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The LDA has delegated responsibility for the evaluation to the WWF and the Urban Unit of the Punjab Planning and Development Department.

According to sources, the LDA has instructed its metropolitan division to take only Master Plan-2016-compliant applications for new housing schemes and land subdivisions. The LDA has also provided pertinent documents to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). It is investigating allegations of illegally approving the Master Plan.

After a petition was filed alleging that the LDA’s approval of the plan was manipulated to benefit the land syndicate and developers, the LHC suspended the plan’s operation in January. The court was also concerned that such initiatives could threaten the nation’s economy. The LDA has stated that, if requested, it will cooperate with the NAB investigation.

Environmentalists are concerned about the Master Plan’s effect on Lahore’s air quality index (AQI), which declines by 10.7% annually. After the LDA obtains the Lahore High Court’s detailed judgement, the WWF and Urban Unit will conduct the review.