Lahore Division

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority has allotted plot numbers to successful applicants under its easy installment programme following the completion of the fifth computerized balloting process.
According to the LDA, the initiative is part of an ongoing programme launched on the instructions of Director General Tahir Farooq to provide residential and commercial plots to citizens through affordable payment plans.
Successful applicants from the balloting held on May 18 were allotted plot numbers in Johar Town, LDA City, Allama Iqbal Town and LDA Enclave.
The plots included four marla commercial plots in the Business Bay Block of LDA City, commercial plots ranging from two to 5.2 marlas in Blocks M, N and F One of Johar Town, 3.11 marla commercial plots in the Fruit and Vegetable Market of Allama Iqbal Town, 3.5 marla residential plots in Johar Town Block R One and three marla residential plots in Block D of LDA Enclave.
The computerized balloting was conducted by the Punjab Information Technology Board through a pseudocode based system. The LDA said the process was designed to ensure transparency, fairness and equal opportunity for all applicants.
Director General LDA Tahir Farooq congratulated the successful applicants and said the authority was continuing to offer additional plots in its housing schemes through three year installment plans.
He said the initiative was intended to enable more citizens to acquire plots for residential and commercial purposes through an affordable and structured payment mechanism.
Successful applicants can check their allotted plot numbers through the official LDA website.
The computerized balloting ceremony was held at the LDA Sports Complex in Johar Town and was attended by a large number of citizens.
The Chief Information Technology Officer, Director Auction, Directors Housing, Director Town Planning and other senior LDA officials were also present at the event.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority has decided to expand its panic button project to further strengthen security arrangements for Chinese nationals living and working across the province.
Under the initiative, a modern emergency alert system will be installed at Chinese residential compounds, accommodation facilities and project sites, enabling occupants to immediately notify the relevant authorities in the event of a security threat or other emergency.
Officials said pressing the panic button would instantly transmit an emergency alert to the concerned law enforcement agencies, helping improve inter agency coordination and reduce response times during critical incidents.
As part of the expansion, the Special Protection Unit, which is responsible for providing security to Chinese nationals, will also be equipped with panic button technology to enhance its operational capacity and emergency response capabilities.
In the first phase, QR code enabled panic buttons will be installed at more than 200 Chinese linked residential and project locations across Lahore.
Authorities said the technology would enable security agencies to respond more quickly and effectively to emergencies while further strengthening protection measures for Chinese citizens and strategically important project sites.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority said work was also underway to further upgrade the emergency alert system as part of broader efforts to improve security arrangements for Chinese nationals residing in the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court, in a significant ruling concerning evacuee trust properties, has declared that trust or evacuee land cannot be reallotted to any individual, institution or organisation. The court further ruled that such land may only be used for public welfare and official purposes.
Mr. Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal dismissed a petition seeking the transfer of evacuee trust land during the preliminary hearing and issued a nine page written judgment.
The court observed that the laws governing evacuee properties were repealed in 1975 and, as a result, no legal authority now exists to make fresh allotments or grant alternative land to any person.
According to the judgment, all evacuee property has become the property of the government. Once such land came under state ownership, neither the Chief Settlement Commissioner nor any board retained the authority to make decisions regarding its allotment.
The court further clarified that the government may use evacuee land only for projects serving the public interest. Any allotment of such property in favour of a private individual or institution would have no legal validity.
The judgment also stated that any allotment of evacue land made in violation of the law would be considered void from the outset. It added that failure to record an old allotment order in official records within the prescribed period deprives it of legal effect.
The petitioner had argued that his grandfather purchased three kanals of land through an open auction in Mailsi in 1960. However, due to his illiteracy and lack of knowledge of legal procedures, the transfer of the land was never entered into the official record.
The petitioner had requested the court to direct the Multan commissioner to register the transfer of the land in the government record.
The Lahore High Court, however, accepted the arguments presented by the government counsel and ruled that there was no legal basis for registering a land transfer on the strength of repealed laws and decades-old allotment orders.
The petition was therefore declared inadmissible and dismissed at the initial stage.