Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan

Punjab plans to introduce uniform reforms governing the approval, monitoring and administration of private housing schemes across the province. According to sources, a standing committee of the provincial cabinet has approved proposed amendments to housing laws, with implementation to proceed following legal scrutiny.

The proposed reforms aim to modernise the existing approval and oversight framework. Key proposals include introducing a digital approval system and standardising procedures for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) across Punjab.
The proposals also include providing citizens with access to digital land records and establishing a management system to strengthen oversight of housing schemes.

Under the proposed amendments, development costs would be subject to independent third-party assessment. However, details of the assessing bodies, assessment timelines and criteria for determining costs have not been disclosed.

A clear procedure has also been proposed for releasing mortgaged plots in housing schemes. Administrative committees would be established for approved schemes, although details of their composition, powers and responsibilities have yet to emerge.

Other proposals include stricter action against rule violations, new regulations for low cost housing projects and a framework for regularising unauthorised housing schemes. Eligibility criteria, conditions and other requirements for regularisation will become clear once the final rules are issued.

According to sources, the proposed amendments will be implemented across Punjab following legal scrutiny. The standing committee’s approval, therefore, does not constitute formal implementation of the reforms.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

Authorities have identified 271 dangerous buildings in Lahore's historic Walled City following a structural safety survey conducted ahead of Basant 2027, as efforts continue to assess potentially unsafe properties and reduce the risk of accidents during the kite flying festival.

According to the survey findings, inspections of approximately 10,000 buildings have been completed across five wards of the Walled City, with 271 structures classified as dangerous.

The highest number of unsafe buildings was recorded in the Lohari Gate area, where 95 structures were identified as potentially hazardous.
Taxali Gate ranked second with 57 dangerous buildings, while 52 unsafe structures were identified in the ward comprising Akbari Gate and Delhi Gate.
Similarly, authorities identified 43 dangerous buildings in Bhati Gate and 24 in Yakki Gate.

Officials said Lahore's Walled City comprises nine wards containing approximately 22,000 buildings. With inspections completed in five wards, structural assessments are continuing in the remaining four.
The survey is intended to identify buildings that may pose safety risks during Basant celebrations, particularly structures with weakened rooftops, deteriorating walls or other structural defects.

During the festival, rooftops traditionally attract groups of people participating in or watching kite-flying activities, potentially placing additional pressure on older and weakened structures.Many properties in Lahore's historic Walled City are several decades old, and some have experienced deterioration due to ageing construction materials, inadequate maintenance and environmental exposure.The Punjab government has already announced that Basant 2027 will be celebrated in Lahore from March 12 to 14, subject to safety regulations and administrative arrangements.

Authorities have also issued instructions regarding the inspection of old buildings and rooftops to minimise the risk of accidents during the celebrations.
Under the announced safety measures, kite flying will not be permitted on unsafe rooftops.The district administration has been directed to inspect the rooftops of old residential and commercial buildings, while kite-flying activities may be prohibited on structures that fail the required safety assessments.

Property owners are also required to comply with prescribed safety measures, including providing rooftop boundary walls at least three-and-a-half feet high and carrying out necessary repairs at authorised locations.The ongoing building survey is expected to help authorities identify vulnerable structures and inform property owners about the need for precautionary measures before the festival.

Lahore | Riaz Hussain, ReNews Pakistan

A public notice concerning property transactions has advised buyers and sellers to ensure that their names recorded on their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), exactly match those appearing in their Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) profiles.
According to the notice, both parties involved in transferring a plot or house must ensure consistency between their identification documents and tax registration records. In case of any discrepancy in FBR records, taxpayers have been advised to update their registration information under Section 181 of the Income Tax Ordinance by using the FBR's online portal or contacting the relevant Regional Tax Office (RTO).
The FBR's official website confirms that taxpayers can request amendments to their income tax registration details if any errors, omissions or changes are identified. Under the prescribed procedure, the concerned individual submits a registration amendment form through the IRIS portal. The Commissioner may approve or reject the application after reviewing it.
Separate FBR guidelines explain that certain registration details can be updated online through Registration Form 181. These include mobile phone numbers, residential and business addresses, bank account information and certain other particulars.
However, specific changes, including amendments involving CNIC numbers, require taxpayers to visit the relevant Regional Tax Office and provide the necessary supporting documents.
Importantly, the official FBR guidance does not explicitly include name changes among the details that taxpayers can independently modify online. Therefore, individuals whose names contain spelling differences or other discrepancies should contact the relevant Regional Tax Office to confirm the procedure applicable to their particular circumstances.
Submitting an online amendment form alone should not be considered a guarantee that a name correction will be approved in every case.
The importance of identity verification during property transfers is also reflected in the procedures followed by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA).
According to the authority, valid identity cards and ownership documents are required for property mutation and transfer. The process at land record centres also involves recording CNIC details, capturing photographs and conducting biometric verification.
The public notice does not specify any deadline for correcting discrepancies, penalties for non-compliance or automatic rejection of property transfers where names do not match.
Its primary message is that property buyers and sellers should ensure consistency between the names appearing on their CNICs and FBR tax profiles to avoid potential documentation and verification issues during property transactions.

Dubai | ReNews Pakistan

Construction projects worldwide are facing growing challenges as slow approvals, fragmented documentation and administrative bottlenecks contribute to delays, rising costs and difficulties in meeting completion deadlines.
A global survey conducted by construction and real estate management technology company PlanRadar has highlighted widespread inefficiencies affecting project delivery across Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.
The PlanRadar Construction Survey Report 2026 gathered responses from 1,728 construction professionals across 14 countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
According to the findings, nearly three quarters of respondents reported that project approvals and decisions frequently take longer than expected.
Approximately one in four construction professionals said approval delays typically extend project schedules by more than a month.
The report also found that projects experiencing persistent approval delays were more than twice as likely to face delays of at least one month compared with projects where approvals were handled efficiently.
Cost overruns emerged as another major concern. Around two thirds of respondents identified changes introduced during construction as a common cause of budget increases across multiple projects.
These changes may involve design modifications, revised technical requirements or adjustments to project specifications after construction has begun.
The survey further revealed that approximately 80% of professionals reported that at least half of their project documentation was scattered across emails, phone calls, messages and verbal instructions.
Such fragmented communication makes it difficult to track decisions, establish accountability and identify responsibility when disputes or delays occur.
According to the report, 70% of professionals who could easily access project documentation expressed confidence in their ability to demonstrate responsibility for delays or additional costs.
In comparison, only 35% of respondents dealing with poorly organised documentation reported similar confidence.
PlanRadar Co-Founder and Co-CEO Ibrahim Imam said that even relatively minor administrative delays could create significant consequences as construction activity increases.
He emphasised the need for construction companies to improve accountability, streamline approvals and ensure faster access to reliable project information ahead of 2027.
The survey also highlighted the growing importance of digital construction management systems.
Four out of five professionals using centralised digital systems to record project changes reported improvements in their ability to control costs or protect profit margins.
Additionally, 58% of respondents expected artificial intelligence to help reduce workloads associated with project delivery and change management.
The findings also offer lessons for developing construction markets, including Pakistan, where housing project approvals, coordination among contractors, documentation management and timely project completion remain important industry concerns.
The survey was conducted in January 2026, while its findings were highlighted again in October in relation to construction project risks in the UAE.
Pakistan was not separately assessed in the survey, and the results represent respondents' reported experiences rather than direct measurements of all construction projects worldwide.

Frankfurt | ReNews Pakistan

Demand for housing loans across the eurozone has declined sharply as rising interest rates, higher borrowing costs and economic uncertainty continue to affect residential property markets.
According to the European Central Bank's (ECB) latest Bank Lending Survey, released on October 27, mortgage loan demand recorded a net decline of 27% during the third quarter of 2026, compared with a negative 15% in the preceding quarter.
The survey indicates that the deterioration in housing loan demand was significantly greater than banks had previously anticipated. Financial institutions had expected a net decline of 12% for the third quarter, but actual demand proved considerably weaker.
The ECB identified higher interest rates as the primary factor behind the decline in mortgage demand. Weaker consumer confidence and concerns about the future outlook of the residential property market also contributed to reduced borrowing activity.
Higher interest rates increase the cost of long-term mortgage financing, potentially raising monthly repayments and reducing affordability for prospective homebuyers.
As a result, households may postpone property purchases, reconsider their housing budgets or avoid taking on additional financial commitments.
According to the survey, banks generally kept their credit standards for housing loans unchanged during the third quarter. However, lending conditions for businesses and consumer credit became more restrictive.
Looking ahead, banks expect credit standards to tighten across housing, business and consumer lending during the final quarter of 2026.
European financial institutions have also highlighted increasing credit risks and greater caution in lending decisions as important factors influencing their policies.
Economic uncertainty, fluctuating energy prices and geopolitical developments continue to create additional challenges for the region's financial sector.
In France, uncertainty surrounding public finances has added pressure to lending conditions, while banks across the eurozone are adopting a more cautious approach to assessing borrowers' financial positions.
The slowdown in mortgage demand represents an important signal for Europe's residential real estate and construction industries.
Persistently high financing costs could delay home purchases, weaken residential investment and potentially affect the pace of new housing developments.
The ECB's latest findings underline the importance of interest rate developments, consumer confidence and lending conditions in determining the future direction of the eurozone housing market.
However, the figures refer specifically to countries using the euro rather than Europe as a whole.
The reported negative 27% represents the net percentage of surveyed banks reporting falling rather than rising mortgage demand. It does not mean that the total number or value of mortgage loans declined by 27%.
The latest survey highlights the continuing challenges facing housing finance markets as European households and financial institutions adjust to changing economic and borrowing conditions.