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Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
LCCI demands cut in DC rates, curbs on sealing of industries
LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has raised serious concerns about the plight of industrial units operating in Saggian Lahore and surrounding areas under the jurisdiction of Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA). In an emergency meeting held at LCCI, industrialists unanimously appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice of the crisis. LCCI Acting President Engneer Khalid Usman, former LCCI President Muhammad Ali Mian, Convener of Standing Committee Ali Sheraz, Zafar iqbal, Akram dewan, Muhammad Ameen, Muhammad Hanan, Muhammad Yonus, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Adeel and Advocate M Waqar also spoke on the occasion. Engineer Khalid Usman and Muhammad Ali Mian highlighted that major issue is imposition of DC rate that is 10 times higher than standard rates in the jurisdiction of RUDA. They said that over 1,000 industrial units, ranging from small workshops to large factories, are facing existential threats due to these inflated charges. Usman emphasized that these industries employ more than 10,000 workers directly and support thousands of families indirectly. If RUDA continues with this unfair taxation, we will see massive job losses and industrial collapse. While painting a grim picture of the potential consequences, they said that forcing industries to pay unaffordable DC rates will lead to shut downs. When factories close, workers lose livelihoods, and that creates social unrest and law-and-order problems. They demanded immediate reduction in DC rates to reasonable levels, restriction on sealing or eviction of industrial units and consultation with stakeholders before finalizing new rates. Participants of the meeting said that industrialists have pinned their hopes on CM Maryam Nawaz's intervention. 'We believe the Chief Minister, who has prioritized economic development, will understand our plight and take necessary action. They warned that destabilizing this industrial hub could have ripple effects across Punjab's economy. These industries feed into larger supply chains. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
RUDA aims to revive River Ravi through new barrage
LAHORE: Chairman of Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) Shahid Ashraf Tarar has said that their main objective is to revive the River Ravi and they were moving in that direction; the river will be flowing after the construction of first barrage which will have the capacity of storing 59 billion litres of water. He expressed these views during his visit to different sites of Ravi City to review the ongoing construction work at the embankments and other development work on Monday; he was accompanied by RUDA Chief Executive Officer Imran Amin. They also visited the river training site, and on this occasion, they were told that in the first phase of river training, a majority of the work had already been completed. They also reviewed the construction work for package 6 which links the already done earthwork with the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM). The RUDA CEO also visited Nath Village to review the ongoing uplifting work. Fatima Ali Khan, Director Special Initiatives, CSR and Diversity, briefed the visitors on the progress on key facilities, including a dispensary, school, entrance gate, roadworks, drainage systems and pavers. Emphasising timely completion, the RUDA CEO directed to finalise all remaining work by June 30, with an inauguration planned for mid-July. He further instructed that the paint work on the street walls should begin next week. He, while visiting the Mehmood Booti dump site, appreciated the site engineers for undertaking the task of converting it into a modern urban jungle and park with a solar power array generating 5 megawatts of electricity. This will beautify the city, he said. Moreover, he also visited the upcoming flagship residential project Chaharbagh where senior officials briefed him about the developmental work completed so far. He instructed RUDA officials on site to speed up communication infrastructure linking up with trunk and also feasibility finalisation of a flyover, linking Chaharbagh with Ring Road. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
RUDA, PVTC sign MoU to enhance youth empowerment
LAHORE: The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday with the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) to enhance youth empowerment and promote vocational training. While addressing the signing ceremony, RUDA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership, highlighting it as a milestone in RUDA's ongoing efforts to equip the youth with essential skills. 'This MoU is not just collaboration, it is an opportunity to create a meaningful impact and leave a legacy that future generations will benefit from,' he added. RUDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Imran Amin, speaking on this occasion, highlighted RUDA's initiatives in skill development and the establishment of technical institutions, including ongoing projects within RUDA's jurisdiction. He underscored the potential of such collaborations to transform the socio-economic landscape. PVTC Chairman Khalid Mahmood Chaudhary expressed his gratitude to the RUDA team for their dedication and professionalism in ensuring compliance and facilitating the MoU's execution. Both organisations are aligned in vision and committed to working collectively towards achieving mutual goals, he added. Fatima Ali Khan, Director Special Initiatives at RUDA, said that this partnership marks a new chapter in public-sector collaboration aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for skill acquisition and economic empowerment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
31-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Waste dump to turn into green energy hub
The Lahore Waste Management Company's (LWMC) ambitious project to convert the Mehmood Booti landfill into a solar park and urban forest is progressing rapidly, with authorities expecting to complete the first phase by July and the second phase by the end of the year. The initiative, backed by a five-billion-rupee investment, aims to convert methane gas emissions from the landfill into usable energy while also generating carbon credits. For decades, the towering waste heaps of Mehmood Booti, located north of Lahore Ring Road, posed severe environmental and health hazards, particularly for LWMC workers and nearby residents due to persistent odours and methane emissions. Now, the 42-acre siteonce standing nearly 80 feet highis being rehabilitated with soil covering and reimagined as a sustainable energy and recreational hub. The landfill, which served as Lahore's primary dumping site until 2016 before waste disposal shifted to Lakhodair, is now a key part of the Punjab government's "Clean Punjab" initiative. Overseen by LWMC and the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), the project includes a large-scale methane gas extraction system, where installed plastic pipelines will capture and process the gas for sale to nearby industries. Additionally, an 11-acre solar park atop the landfill will generate approximately 5 megawatts of electricity, while the remaining 31 acres will be transformed into an urban forest with tree plantations and walking trails. RUDA CEO Imran Amin, estimated that the sale of carbon credits could bring in two to three billion rupees annually, with additional revenue from biogas.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Lahore's Mehmood Booti landfill to become solar park and urban forest
Listen to article The transformation of Lahore Waste Management Company's (LWMC) waste dumping site in Mehmood Booti into a solar park and urban forestry area is progressing rapidly. Authorities anticipate completing the first phase of the project by July this year, with the second phase expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Methane gas emissions from the landfill will be converted into usable energy through an investment of five billion rupees, and the project is also set to generate carbon credits. The towering waste heaps near Mehmood Booti, north of Lahore Ring Road, have long contributed to environmental pollution and health risks for local residents, particularly LWMC workers, due to the persistent odor and methane emissions. However, the 42-acre landfill, which once stood nearly 80 feet high, is now being covered with soil and transformed into a solar park and urban forest. Most of Lahore's waste was historically dumped at this site until 2016 when it was closed, and waste disposal was shifted to a new site in Lakhodair, which is now also nearing full capacity. In 2023, the caretaker government initiated a feasibility study for the conversion of Mehmood Booti into a solar energy park and recreational space. The current provincial administration has now incorporated this initiative into the Chief Minister's "Clean Punjab" program. The Lahore Waste Management Company and Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) are jointly overseeing the project. According to LWMC CEO Babar Sahib Deen, the landfill will be used to extract gas, which will be sold to nearby industries. For this purpose, large plastic pipes, approximately one foot in diameter, have been installed at various points across the landfill to capture methane gas emissions. In addition to gas extraction, an 11-acre solar park is being developed atop the site, expected to generate approximately five megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, the surrounding 31-acre area will be dedicated to urban forestry, featuring tree plantations and walking trails. RUDA CEO Imran Amin emphasized that the transformation of Mehmood Booti has turned a former waste dump into a lucrative asset, projected to generate substantial revenue. The project will yield economic benefits for the next two decades through carbon credits, biogas, and electricity production. Officials estimate that the sale of carbon credits alone will generate two to three billion rupees annually, while electricity from the solar park will be commercially viable. Additionally, biogas production from the landfill is expected to contribute billions of rupees to Punjab's revenue stream. The feasibility for the carbon credit program has already been completed. Carbon credits, also known as certified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, are generated when a company, individual, or institution undertakes projects that reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases. One metric ton of reduced or eliminated greenhouse gas emissions equates to one carbon credit, which can be sold on the carbon market for anywhere between five to fifty US dollars, depending on the project's quality. Authorities estimate that this project could generate between five hundred thousand to one million US dollars annually through carbon credit sales. Local residents have expressed their appreciation for the initiative. Haji Muhammad Munir Mughal, a local community leader and businessman, noted that the odor and gas emissions from the landfill had previously forced many residents to relocate, with visitors also avoiding the area. He welcomed the government's efforts to rehabilitate the site into an environmentally friendly space. He further urged authorities to extend similar environmental projects to the Lakhodair dumping site, which is also nearing full capacity. Government officials have confirmed that work will soon commence at the Lakhodair dumping site. They believe these initiatives will play a transformative role in improving Lahore's air quality and overall urban environment.
