The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has initiated a comprehensive monsoon preparedness campaign to safeguard public life and protect the historic urban fabric of the Walled City ahead of the rainy season. According to a WCLA spokesperson, the initiative aligns with directives from the Punjab government to minimize risks associated with heavy rains and ensure resident safety.
Structural Surveys and Notices Issued
As part of the campaign, WCLA completed a detailed structural survey of buildings across the Walled City to identify unsafe and dilapidated structures that could pose risks during the monsoon. Based on survey findings, notices have been issued to owners of hazardous buildings, directing them to immediately undertake required repairs and strengthening at their own expense to ensure structural safety.
Owners who are unable or unwilling to repair unsafe structures have been directed to vacate the buildings immediately to prevent loss of life or property in case of collapse, the spokesperson added.
Advice to Residents and Property Owners
Residents and property owners have been advised to keep rooftops, rainwater drainage systems, gutters, and downpipes clean and fully functional throughout the monsoon season to prevent water accumulation, seepage, and structural damage. The authority reiterated that no unauthorized construction, addition of floors, structural alterations, excavation, or modifications to heritage buildings or other properties within the Walled City would be allowed without prior approval from WCLA, as such activities violate heritage conservation regulations and increase structural risks during adverse weather.
Official Statements and Commitment
WCLA Director General Najmus Saqib emphasized that the protection of human life remains the authority’s foremost priority. He stated that preventive measures before the onset of the monsoon are essential to minimizing risks and ensuring resident safety. Saqib noted that preserving Lahore’s architectural heritage must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of people living in the centuries-old neighborhoods, and urged citizens to cooperate by complying with official notices, carrying out timely repairs, maintaining proper drainage facilities, and following all safety instructions.
The WCLA remains committed to implementing the Punjab government’s vision of ensuring public safety, preserving the city’s cultural heritage, and adopting proactive disaster risk management measures to reduce the impact of the upcoming monsoon season, he added.
