Lahore Division

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved a major expansion of the restoration and development project for Kamran’s Baradari, one of Lahore’s historic Mughal-era landmarks, increasing the project area from five acres to 15 acres.
The expanded plan aims to conserve the historic structure while transforming its surroundings into a modern recreational destination for residents and tourists. Officials have been directed to ensure that all development work respects the monument’s original architecture and does not compromise its historical integrity.
Under the revised project, the area surrounding Kamran’s Baradari will feature garden-style landscaping, decorative lighting and dedicated parking facilities. These improvements are intended to enhance the visitor experience and make the site more accessible without altering its heritage character.
The project is being implemented with support from the Punjab Archaeology Department, the Water and Sanitation Agency and the Parks and Horticulture Authority. The participating departments are expected to coordinate conservation, infrastructure development, landscaping and utility-related work at the site.
Earlier proposals for the expanded development included several dining and recreational attractions, such as the Ravi Show Restaurant, atrium dining, ship dining, sky dining and wooden bakery outlets. Plans also featured golf courts, pedestrian walkways, buggy tracks, fountains, children’s play areas and designated selfie points.
It has not yet been confirmed whether all the previously proposed facilities will be included in the final approved design. Authorities are expected to review each component in light of conservation requirements and the need to protect the site’s historic setting.
Kamran’s Baradari stands near the River Ravi and is associated with Prince Kamran Mirza, a son of Mughal emperor Babur. The monument is considered an important part of Lahore’s architectural heritage, but its location and surrounding environmental conditions have created conservation challenges over the years.
The expansion from five to 15 acres is expected to provide more space for landscaping, visitor facilities and regulated recreational activities around the monument. If implemented with appropriate heritage safeguards, the project could improve public access to the site while supporting cultural tourism in Lahore.
The government has not yet announced the project’s revised cost, completion schedule or a firm date for opening the expanded facility to the public.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has introduced a Property Transparency System, PTS, aimed at giving citizens easier access to verified information about approved housing societies and helping property buyers make safer investment decisions.
According to a public awareness notice issued under the Punjab Land Records Authority's land administration reform programme, citizens can use the online system to check important information about housing societies before purchasing or investing in property.
The platform provides access to information including the list of approved housing societies, approved Layout Plans, or LOPs, details of plots and other relevant information related to housing schemes.
The government has advised prospective buyers and investors to verify the status and details of a housing society through the official portal before making any property transaction.
The initiative is intended to improve transparency in Punjab's housing and property sector by making official information more easily accessible to the public. It may also help buyers distinguish between approved projects and schemes whose regulatory status requires further verification.
The system offers citizens a relatively simple way to check property related information online rather than relying solely on claims made by developers, property dealers or marketing material.
According to the government's awareness campaign, the Property Transparency System is designed around three key benefits: greater protection for property buyers and investors, easier access to verified information, and availability of important housing society records through an official digital platform.
Citizens have been urged to obtain relevant information about a housing scheme before buying a plot or making an investment, particularly by checking its approval status and approved layout plan.
The government has made the information available through its Punjab Zameen online platform as part of broader efforts to digitise land and property related services and increase public access to official records.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has proposed the construction of a major underground parking plaza between Data Darbar and Bhatti Gate in Lahore, as part of efforts to address chronic parking shortages and traffic congestion in one of the city’s busiest and most historically significant areas.
According to the proposal, the project will be developed over approximately 22 kanals of land and is estimated to cost more than Rs8.225 billion. The plan has been forwarded to the Punjab chief minister for approval before further development and construction arrangements can proceed.
The Lahore Development Authority, LDA, and the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency, TEPA, have jointly prepared the cost estimates and initial project framework.
The LDA director general has also sought approval to include the proposed parking plaza in the development programme for the current financial year, along with the allocation of the required funds for its construction.
The project is being planned as a three-level underground parking facility equipped with modern transport and parking technologies.
According to the proposed design, the facility will include an Intelligent Transportation System, automated parking arrangements and dedicated charging stations for electric vehicles.
Once completed, the plaza is expected to provide parking space for around 600 cars and 1,700 motorcycles.
The facility is primarily intended to serve visitors to Data Darbar, while also easing parking pressure for residents, traders, businesses and commuters in the surrounding areas.
Data Darbar and Bhatti Gate form part of a heavily congested zone where a large volume of daily pedestrian and vehicular traffic creates persistent mobility and parking challenges.
The proposed underground facility is expected to reduce roadside parking and improve traffic circulation by shifting a significant number of vehicles away from streets and surrounding access roads.
The new proposal comes after infrastructure improvements already undertaken in the area, including the Bhatti Underpass and Data Darbar upgrade projects.
Officials are also considering whether the construction work should be assigned to TEPA rather than the LDA Engineering Wing.
A final decision on the executing agency, funding arrangements and construction schedule will be taken after approval from the competent authorities.
If approved, the project would become one of Lahore’s major underground parking facilities and could play an important role in improving accessibility around Data Darbar and the adjoining historic areas.
The combination of large-scale underground parking, automated systems and EV charging infrastructure is also expected to support the government’s broader efforts to modernize urban transport facilities in Lahore while reducing pressure on limited surface space.
The project will move into implementation only after receiving the necessary administrative and financial approvals.