Model Town, Lahore

Model Town Lahore is a suburb of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located next to Faisal Town, Gulberg, Garden Town and Township suburbs of Lahore.

History

On Sunday 27 February 1921, some 200 persons assembled in Lahore's Town Hall under the chairmanship of Rai Bahadur Genga Ram and decided to establish a cooperative housing society named garden town.

The meeting approved Diwan Khem Chand's proposed housing scheme based on cooperative principles in the suburbs of Lahore to solve housing problems and also to provide improved sanitary and better living facilities for the residents, and thus the government was requested to provide a 1000 acre (4 km²) plot of land.

Model Town Society

A preliminary committee of 21 members was formed under the chairmanship of Khan Bahadur Sir Sh. Abdul Qadir to frame the by-laws and to carry out other necessary work in connection with the formation of the society. Resultingly, The Cooperative Model Town Society Limited was formed and subsequently registered under the Cooperative Societies Act II of 1912 in 1924. The principle objectives of the Society were:

1. To conceive, design, develop and maintain a garden town

2. To buy or otherwise acquire, land, buildings and other moveable and immovable property

3. To provide services and construct, manage and maintain works, and other infrastructure of various kinds for the convenience and benefit of the resident members.

4. To sell, mortgage, give on lease, land, houses, house-site, buildings and all moveable, immovable property as may be necessary for carrying out any of the objects of the society.

5. To build residential houses, and other buildings for private and public use and for the convenience of members etc.

On 1 April, 1941, the Government of the Punjab transferred 1,963 acres (7.9 km²) situated in Rakh, Kot Lakhpat Tehsil, District, Lahore and the transfer deed was registered with the Sub-Registrar, Lahore, on 25 April, 1941.

Grewal's Group served Model Town a lot as a Member in Assembly or as a construction (repair) of Model Town

Evacuee Property

The Society was declared as Evacuee property on 6 September 1960 and was placed under the management of Mr. Riaz-ud-Din Ahmad, agent to the custodian for Model Town. However on 19 March 1962, twenty five(25) representatives of the Model Town Society held a meeting under the chairmanship of Khawaja Hafiz-ullah and discussed the legal status of the Society and further steps to be taken in connection with the reconstitution. As a result, the institution was registered as The Cooperative Model Town Society (1962) Limited, Lahore on 9 January 1963 by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Lahore Region. New bylaws of the society were also registered under the Cooperative Societies Act 1925.

The basic tenets of the society, however, continued to be the same as were originally planned, namely to promote the economic and social interests of its members, particularly to plan, establish and maintain a garden town.

Taking over by the Administrator

The Society, unfortunately, could not keep maintain its standard and the management staggered until April 1982 when the administrator was forced to take over the Society. The management of the Society was superseded under MLO No. 856 dated 30 March1982. The general body and the managing committee were dissolved. All the powers and functions of the managing committee and general body were vested in the administrator. Any how the legal status of the society continues to be a Cooperative Society registered under the Cooperative Societies Act 1925 and being supervised and controlled by the Registrar, Cooperatives Punjab, Lahore.

Return of the elected managing committee and general body

It is a cooperative society based on the cooperatives principles of self-help, self-governance, self-finance and mutual cooperation.

The Cooperative Model Town Society has been under the control of the administrator. After a lapse of twenty years the Supreme Court of Pakistan restored the society in July 2002. Accordingly new elections were held in September 2002 under supervision of the cooperative department and members exercised their right of vote to elect a new management committee on 29 September 2002 which consisted of president, vice-president and 20 members of managing committee (2 from each block) and five nominated / ex-officio members.

The new managing committee took over the office on 23 October 2002. The new managing committee completed the on-going projects of the previous administration and approved its first welfare-oriented budget for the fiscal year 2003-2004. Special attention is given to the development projects in this budget. An amount of Rs. 15 million was allocated for the construction of a community centre but it remained on papers. Similarly 15 million is allocated for widening, re-carpeting and repairing of the roads. The work is now in progress. In order to improve the water supply system, new tube-wells are being installed and rusted water pipelines are being replaced. An amount of Rs. 10 million is allocated in this head. A new truck and twenty-five new transformers are purchased to upgrade the electricity system. Computerization of the office record is being undertaken and more technical staff and professionals are also being recruited for improving the efficiency.

The society’s administration has also taken up a number of steps in the present budget for the welfare of the residents, which include:

Property cess is decreased from 3½% to 2½% of the registered value. Legal heirs are exempted from transfer fee and other liabilities. The electricity rates are subsidized and a relief of 0.40 Rs. per kWh is given to the members.

Area and population

Model Town Society is spread over an area of 1463 acre (5.9 km²). This area in further divided into ten blocks (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K) Blocks L, M, N, P, Q, R and S are in the outskirts of Model Town and are administered by Lahore Development Authority LDA. These blocks have been named as Model Town Extension when Model Town Society sold this land to LDA in return of developmental works. The break up of total area is as under: -

1. Residential 819 acre =56% 2. Commercial 29 acre =2% 3. Roads 278 acre =19% 4. Nurseries and play grounds 59 acre =4% 5. Green area (parks) 278 acre =19%

The total population of the Model town is about 100,000. Model Town Society is a unique housing area in its design and is considered posh locality of the town. Each block has its own market, play ground, mosque, triangular parks etc., which is a rare phenomenon as compared to other housing schemes.

Model Town Then and Now

In recent years , Model Town has attracted everyone, from local builders to international food chains. Model Town is a place to be in. Not too many years ago it was regarded as a town "out of Lahore", taxies and rickshaws were reluctant to come to Model Town due to its distance from the main city. Now Model Town is the centre of activity. During the regime of President General Zia ul Haq, General Jillani then Govenmor of the Punjab took the initiative to bring the lost glory of Model Town back to it. This was in early 1980s. The electric supply lines were changed, street lights & sewrage system installed, roads improved, and central Model Town park was developed as per the original plan of the 1920s. This gave Model Town the glory that it has now. Many architects, developers, and town planners regard Model Town as the best place to live in the entire city of Lahore. The ex-prime minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharif, the current elected Nazim of Lahore Mian Amir Mehmood, and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto all have homes in Model Town, Lahore.

Model Town has branches of all the major banks, and major retail chains. It has many schools, a girls college. On the Model Town Link road, the famous department store PACE has a branch here as well. Zainab Tower is the recently constructed complex and is selling its shops. In short, all every day household and general use items are available in various markets of Model Town.

The oldest school in Model Town is "The New School" in B-Block. This was established in 1930's by Miss Lena Mary Stratford, a resident of D-Block Model,Town. The New School is still functioning since it opened its doors to students in 1930's. Another old school is ZM Oxford, established by Mr. Munawar in the late 1940s' just after the creation of Pakistan. This school is also still functioning.

Famous eating spots

Model Town Lahore has some good places for food-lovers, like "Bhaiyya Kabab" in D-Block Inner Market, Nafees Dhai Bhalle in A-Block, Goshi restaurant, Sholey Restaurant and Sanny Khan in C-Block Main Market, Goga Naqebia Murgh Chanay in A Block market and Q Block Flats. Don't forget Lahore's Best SMOSAY of Amjad in A-Block Market.

Model Town Park

Built in 1990, Model Town Park is one of the largest public parks of Lahore. The circular park is surrounded by the inner-circular road of Model Town. People from all surrounding towns visit Model Town Park as it offers 2.5 km long circular jogging track, lush green lawns and serves as a social meeting spot.

Markets

In the heart of Model Town is the Bank Square Market and Central Commercial Market. In addition to the central market, every block has individual market place for grocery and bakery etc. A-Block Market is the hub for automobile repairs and hardware/ electrical/plumbing and paint suppliers. The Link Model Town Road connects Model Town with Faisal Town and Township areas. On both sides of the road, there are shops for almost everything -from timber, steel, cement etc. to general grocers.

Sports

Some great national cricketers like Waseem Akram, Rameez Raja and Ijaz Ahmad belong to Model Town. Model Town Greens, Nawab Academy, Model Town Club, Amir Mehmood's Club and International Cricket Academy (LDA) are famous sports facilities in the Area.

Security

The Co-operative Model Town society is now ensuring security for its residents by building barriers at each exit except four main entrances. These barriers (gates) are closed after 9 pm and only four entrances (Ferozepur Entrance , Link Road , Mariyan , Nawaz shareefs entrances) are open 24 hours .

The crime rate has been minimized by this action . Now model Town society is also issuing stickers for residents vehicles too .

External Links

• Model Town Society
• Model Town blog