Park View City Lahore, a housing project controversially allocated 11,000 acres near the Ravi River, is once again under scrutiny after being submerged by recent floodwaters.
The project was initially denied by the PTI government, citing severe ecological risks, including destruction of fertile riverbank land, increased flood vulnerability, and long-term environmental damage. Experts had warned that building such massive housing societies near the Ravi River would disrupt the ecological balance and worsen Lahore’s urban flooding crisis.
However, the current Punjab government later approved the project, granting vast tracts of land despite opposition from environmentalists. Critics argue that this decision was driven by short-term economic interests rather than sustainable urban planning.
Now, as parts of Park View City Lahore lie underwater, the fears expressed by environmental experts and the PTI government appear to have materialized. Residents of surrounding areas are raising concerns about illegal housing societies, ecological destruction, and the future of Lahore’s urban planning.
The crisis highlights a growing debate: Should Pakistan prioritize real estate expansion at the cost of environmental sustainability, or should stricter ecological safeguards be enforced before approving mega-housing projects?
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