MCL fails to meet revenue targets
LAHORE:
The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) has fallen significantly short of its revenue targets for the first half of the fiscal year despite increasing building plan fees. In response, the corporation has decided to take disciplinary action against officials responsible for revenue collection, The Express Tribune has learned.
According to the MCL's budget for 2024-25, the corporation had set a revenue target of Rs400 million for building plan approvals. However, it managed to collect only Rs110 million in commercial and residential building plan fees, falling well short of the Rs200 million target for the first half of the fiscal year.
An MCL official, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the shortfall of Rs90 million to the poor performance of zonal officers and building enforcement inspectors.
Warning letters have already been issued, and disciplinary action is being prepared against those who failed to meet revenue targets.
Despite the increase in building plan approval feeseffective July 1, 2024 and aligned with Lahore Development Authority (LDA) ratesweak enforcement, corruption and illegal construction in MCL-controlled areas have severely hampered revenue collection.
The official noted that compared to the LDA, the MCL's efforts against illegal constructions remain minimal.
None of Lahore's nine zones met their respective revenue targets, with the worst-performing zones including Data Ganj Bakhsh, Allama Iqbal, Shalimar, Wagah, Nishtar, and Samanabad.
In response, the corporation has directed the deputy chief officer to compile a comprehensive performance report on all officials in the Planning Department for further scrutiny and potential disciplinary action.
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