Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) has appointed Sultan Gohar, Chief Executive Officer of Lake City Holdings, as Chairman of its North Region for a two year term.

The appointment was formally approved by ABAD's Executive Committee, which expressed confidence that Gohar's experience in real estate development would help advance the interests of builders and developers across the region.

According to reports published on October 19 and 20, 2026, the association nominated Gohar to lead its northern regional operations and contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Pakistan's construction and property development industries.

ABAD welcomed the appointment and expressed the expectation that Gohar's professional background and leadership experience would support the association's efforts to address industry challenges and promote sustainable development.

Gohar is associated with Lake City Holdings, a prominent real estate development business involved in residential and community development projects in Pakistan.

His experience includes leadership and management responsibilities in the property development sector, providing him with practical exposure to challenges faced by private developers.

The appointment also marks his return to a position he has previously held within the association.

According to ABAD's official records of former regional chairmen, Gohar served as Chairman of the North Region during the 2022 23 and 2023 24 terms.

His latest appointment comes at a time when Pakistan's construction and real estate sectors continue to face challenges related to building material costs, taxation, regulatory approvals and access to development financing.

These issues remain important for private developers, particularly those undertaking residential and commercial construction projects that require substantial investment and coordination with regulatory authorities.

ABAD is a national representative organisation of builders and developers working to support private-sector construction activities and promote the development of Pakistan's housing industry.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The federal government has announced plans to establish eight international-standard museums on approximately 150 acres of land in Islamabad, creating a major cultural and heritage complex dedicated to Pakistan's history, national identity, Islamic heritage and armed forces.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the initiative during visits to Malpur and Bara Kahu on October 21, 2026, where he inspected government owned land affected by alleged illegal occupation and reviewed the proposed museum development.

According to the minister, the planned complex will include a National Heritage Museum, History Museum, Armed Forces Museum and Islamic Museum, alongside four additional facilities representing different aspects of Pakistan's cultural, historical and national heritage.

Naqvi said land measuring approximately 150 acres had been identified near Malpur for the proposed development.

The project is intended to establish a major cultural destination in the federal capital, providing facilities for the preservation, documentation and public exhibition of Pakistan's historical and cultural heritage.

The proposed museums are also expected to offer educational and research opportunities for students, historians and visitors while supporting the development of cultural tourism in Islamabad.

During the inspection, the interior minister also raised concerns about the alleged illegal occupation of 108 kanals of government land in Ahmadpur, where construction activities had already taken place.

He directed the relevant authorities to take effective measures to recover government-owned property occupied without legal authorisation.

Naqvi expressed concern that valuable public land and residential apartments in Islamabad had allegedly remained under illegal occupation for decades without adequate accountability.

He said some individuals had constructed farmhouses and other structures on government land and continued occupying such properties for periods extending to 20 or 25 years.

The minister emphasised that action against illegal occupation should also address the role of public officials who failed to prevent encroachments or allegedly facilitated unauthorised construction.

He called for accountability of officials associated with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) who may have neglected their responsibilities in protecting public property.

According to Naqvi, the government intends to pursue coordinated measures involving the Islamabad administration, CDA and other relevant stakeholders to recover state-owned land and make it available for public development projects.

The proposed museum complex also represents a development in the government's earlier plans to establish a National Museum of Pakistan in the federal capital.

The national museum had originally been proposed for Shakarparian, where approximately eight acres were required for the project.

However, during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture earlier in October, officials indicated that the museum would instead form part of a larger cultural complex near Bara Kahu.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that 150 housing societies in Islamabad are operating illegally and that action is underway against them as the government intensifies its efforts to reclaim encroached public land across the federal capital.

The minister stated that illegal occupation of government property would not be tolerated and that all land found under unauthorised occupation would be recovered.

Naqvi made the remarks while speaking to journalists on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during visits to the Kashmir Chowk Underpass construction project and other development sites in Islamabad.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also accompanied him during the inspections.

Addressing the issue of unauthorised housing developments, Naqvi said the authorities were taking action against approximately 150 housing societies identified as illegal.

He emphasised that enforcement measures should not be limited to those occupying government land but should also extend to officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) who had allegedly ignored or facilitated encroachments.

The interior minister said government land and residential properties under unauthorised occupation were being identified and that encroachments would be removed without discrimination.

During his visit to the Bara Kahu area, Naqvi directed the relevant authorities to reclaim 108 kanals of government land from illegal occupation.

He announced plans to establish three museums on the recovered property, including an Army Museum.

The proposed development forms part of wider plans to establish museums and cultural institutions in Islamabad aimed at preserving Pakistan's historical and national heritage.

Meanwhile, the minister inspected progress on the Kashmir Chowk Underpass, a major road infrastructure project intended to improve traffic movement at one of Islamabad's important intersections.

Naqvi said construction had been underway for 12 days and that teams were working around the clock to complete the project as quickly as possible.