Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Abbottabad | ReNews Pakistan
The Galiyat Development Authority has introduced Building Control Regulations 2026, reducing the maximum permitted building height from seven to five floors in applicable environmentally sensitive and tourism focused areas as part of a broader effort to control high rise development and protect the region's mountain character.
According to GDA Director General Mohammad Fawad, the authority has amended its previous 2020 building control framework to address growing concerns over construction pressure, environmental protection and the impact of taller buildings on Galiyat's landscape and tourism identity.
The authority has clarified, however, that the five floor limit does not give every property owner an automatic right to construct a five storey building.
The actual number of floors permitted on an individual property will continue to depend on several planning and site specific factors, including zoning, residential or commercial use, whether the plot is located on the uphill or downhill side, road width, required setbacks, site conditions, environmental restrictions and approval of the individual building plan.
As a result, permissible construction may vary considerably between individual properties even within the same broader area.
The revised regulations are particularly significant for hotels, apartment buildings, commercial projects, holiday homes and mixed use developments, where the number of permitted floors can have a major impact on project feasibility and land valuation.
BCR 2026 also introduces tighter controls on conventional concrete construction. The authority is moving towards greater use of prefabricated, wooden and environmentally friendly structures in applicable areas to reduce the impact of construction activity on forests, mountain slopes and the wider natural environment.
The changes could also have implications for Galiyat's property market. Land previously valued on assumptions that taller buildings could be constructed may need to be reassessed according to the development potential permitted under the new regulations.
Investors planning hotels, apartments or commercial developments may therefore need to verify the allowable building height, covered area, land use and other planning conditions for a specific property directly with the GDA before purchasing land or finalising a development proposal.
The introduction of BCR 2026 comes alongside other environmental initiatives being pursued in Galiyat, including a wastewater treatment project in Nathia Gali and the introduction of electric sightseeing vehicles.
Together, these measures indicate a broader shift in Galiyat's development policy towards environmentally sustainable tourism and controlled construction rather than unrestricted expansion.
The new regulatory framework could reshape future real estate development across the region by requiring developers to balance commercial construction potential with environmental protection, mountain aesthetics and the limited carrying capacity of sensitive tourism destinations.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recovered 66 kanals and 11 marlas of land allocated for public amenities from the private Khazana Greens Housing Society in Peshawar and transferred it to the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Shah Alam.
According to NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the recovered land has a current market value of approximately Rs1.863 billion. The property is located in Mouza Khazana, Tehsil Shah Alam, District Peshawar.
Following the recovery, the land has been formally transferred and mutation has been recorded in favour of TMA Shah Alam, Peshawar, according to the accountability bureau.
NAB said the action is part of its ongoing efforts, in collaboration with LUBCA, to recover amenity plots allocated in private housing schemes and hand them over to the relevant government regulatory authorities.
The bureau said such operations will continue to protect land reserved for public facilities, including parks, roads, graveyards and other essential civic amenities.

Peshawar : ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has intensified action against illegal and non-compliant construction in Peshawar. The Land Use and Building Control Authority (LUBCA) sealed a commercial plaza under construction in a private housing scheme in the Pashtakharah area for violating building control regulations.
According to available official information, on September 8, 2026, the Planning Control Officer, Pashtakharah, conducted an inspection of the private housing scheme under the supervision of the Director Enforcement, LUBCA, along with the relevant staff. During the inspection, violations of building regulations were identified at an under-construction commercial plaza.
Officials said the required parking space had not been provided at the site, while construction was also being carried out without an approved building plan. Following the violations, construction activities were immediately halted and the building was sealed.
LUBCA has continued enforcement operations against illegal construction and violations of land-use and building regulations in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to information available on the authority’s official website, action was also taken against unauthorized and illegal buildings in Pabbi Tehsil on September 8, while an operation against illegal construction was conducted in Chamkani Tehsil on September 7.
The authority maintains that obtaining approval for building plans and complying with relevant regulations are essential requirements for orderly urban planning, public safety and sustainable urban development. LUBCA has also previously sealed commercial plazas under construction for being developed without approved building plans.
The latest action comes as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has stepped up measures against illegal housing schemes across the province. A report published on September 8 stated that action had been decided against more than 500 illegal housing schemes, while notices had already been issued to several schemes.
Officials said enforcement of building control and land-use regulations is aimed at preventing unplanned construction, reducing pressure on urban infrastructure and protecting the interests of citizens and property buyers.
LUBCA is expected to continue enforcement operations against construction carried out without approved plans, illegal buildings and housing schemes operating in violation of applicable land-use and building control regulations.