LAHORE-Despite complete ban, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has switched on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen installed at The Mall Road. The sources said that PHA Director General Irfan Elahi has close connection with the companies involved in installation of these LCD screens at main roads and intersections in the City. He got switched on some LCD screens to oblige the said companies by receiving financial benefits, the sources alleged. The sources disclosed that taking advantage of political instability, he felt free to violate the ban. On the complaints, all LCD screens, switched on for some days by the PHA, had to be switched off instantly, they added. When contacted PHA DG Irfan Elahi to get his version, responded promptly that there was a complete ban over switching on the LCD screens. He said that LCD screen on The Mall Road was found switched on two days ago. 'It has been switched off', he said. He said that PHA had constituted a committee comprising six members led by Authority convener Wasif.. He said that committee would be represented by all stakeholders including TEPA and Traffic police. 'The committee would take stock of the visual effects of LCD screens on traffic. It would check the standards of public safety laid down while installing the LCD hoardings. The committee would also look into the law to know whether there is any provision to instal them or not. 'The Committee would evaluate the junction's efficiency effected by LCD screens. It would also recommend the special sights for their installations', he added. He said that committee would finalise its decision about the fate of LCD screens. According to handout issued by PHA here on Monday, PHA committee got switched on two LCD screens on experimental basis to complete the survey regarding objections. After the finalisation of survey, 27 LCD screens had been turned off, it added. It said that committee would submit its recommendation to remove or shift the LCD screens to other sites. It may be recalled that the former District Coordination Officer ordered PHA to switch them off the LCDs taking cognizance of the situation. A month ago, former PHA Director General Raja Abbas also constituted a committee to decide the fate of the LCD billboards. TEPA former chief Engineer Khushhal Khan was heading the committee. TEPA sources revealed that LCD screens at any chowk are big source of 'attention diverters' for the driver leading to increase in threat of road accidents. They said that TEPA would not oppose them, saying 'we have not any objection if they are installed 90 feet away from solid line to stop line on road at four sides of the junction'. It is pertinent to mention that PHA had installed LCD screens on nine places on main roads including The Mall Road, Jail Road and Cavlary Ground. It also planned to instal 27 LCD screens along The Mall, the Canal, Kalma Chowk, Defence Housing Authority, Jail Road, Park Lane, Gulberg, Cavalry Grounds and Cantonment. The PHA netted some Rs 350 million in 'revenue' collected from the regulation of billboard advertising. PHA isn't the only organisation that gave permission for LCD billboards: The Lahore Cantonment Board has also permitted the installation of these life-threatening billboards at the Walton Road/Cavalry Ground junction. The newly permitted LCD screens installed on major intersection were condemned by the traffic police and ordinary citizens terming them dangerous and said that generators installed for the continuity of the power supply in case of electricity suspension are source of sound and smoke pollution. An insider of PHA told the scribe that LCD screens were not approved by the five/six member committee comprising of one member each from different departments including Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), City Traffic Police, Advertising Department of PHA, an architect Nayyar Ali Dada and Director General of PHA who is the final authority to make decision in this regard. He said that decision was taken by authority concerned in Punjab govt. He said that such new advertising trend through LCD hoardings is very popular in all the developed countries of the world and the civic society of such modern countries did not raise any objection on the installation of such LCD hoardings because they consider it the latest technology and among the innovation and part of the development and a sophisticated method of advertising. 'Although such modern technique in advertising was introduced some decades ago in US, Europe and even in UAE and some countries of Middle East. Then why the objections are being raised against such sophisticated method and on the installation of LCD for advertising purposes in Pakistan?', he said.