Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s flagship housing initiative “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” has received international recognition after being selected for the United Nations Scroll of Honour Award, highlighting its efforts to improve access to safe and affordable housing for low income families.
The programme has been selected by UN-Habitat following a global review of housing initiatives, placing it among the recognised housing programmes from around the world. The award will be presented during the global World Habitat Day event scheduled in Muscat, Oman, on October 5, while related seminars and workshops on housing and urban development will also be held from October 6 to 8.
The UN Scroll of Honour Award is presented annually to selected programmes that demonstrate notable efforts in improving human settlements and housing conditions. According to reports, only five programmes from across the world are selected for the award each year.
The “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” project was launched with the objective of supporting families in obtaining their own houses through an affordable housing finance model. The programme has also gained attention for adopting a fully digital approach to housing finance, aimed at improving accessibility and transparency.
According to available figures, loans worth around Rs260 billion have been disbursed under the initiative for the construction of more than 200,000 houses. In the first phase, financing exceeding Rs196 billion was provided for more than 134,000 houses, while the second phase included loans of over Rs62 billion for around 65,000 houses.
Officials stated that thousands of families have already shifted into houses constructed under the programme, marking progress toward expanding affordable housing opportunities in Punjab.
The recognition comes at a time when Pakistan’s housing sector is focusing on increasing access to residential facilities, improving urban planning and developing sustainable communities. Affordable housing programmes are increasingly being viewed as an important component of urban development, particularly in areas facing growing population pressure.
The project’s digital financing structure, large-scale implementation model and focus on providing residential ownership opportunities have contributed to its international visibility. The initiative also reflects the growing importance of technology-based systems in managing housing programmes and improving service delivery.
Urban development experts have highlighted that successful housing initiatives require not only financial support but also proper planning, infrastructure development and access to basic facilities such as roads, utilities, healthcare and education services.
The recognition of “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” places Punjab’s housing initiative among global discussions on affordable housing solutions and sustainable urban development, as governments worldwide continue to address the challenge of providing secure and adequate housing for growing populations.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq visited the Urban Planning and Design Center and chaired a meeting to review matters related to town planning. The meeting discussed measures to modernize the town planning system, prevent illegal constructions, and enhance monitoring of commercial activities across the city.
Addressing the meeting, DG LDA Tahir Farooq said that the Town Planning Wing is being completely shifted to a digital system, which will help improve monitoring of illegal commercial activities, identify construction violations, and ensure timely action. He said the establishment of a Digital Center aims to bring all LDA zones under a unified system and improve public service delivery.
Tahir Farooq directed town planning officers and staff to improve their interaction with citizens and enhance the quality of services. He instructed field officers to ensure strict implementation of new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and accelerate action against unauthorized commercial activities.
He further directed officials to strengthen surveillance in their respective areas and ensure the removal of encroachments from setback areas along major commercial corridors of the city. He also emphasized speeding up the recovery campaign for penalties imposed on illegal commercial activities.
The DG LDA instructed officials to ensure the provision of drop lanes outside schools operating within LDA limits. He said that schools causing traffic disruptions during peak hours should be required to submit traffic management plans to improve traffic flow and reduce inconvenience for citizens.
He further stated that cases received through the e-Biz system must be processed within the given timelines, while the performance of Town Planning Wing officers will be evaluated on the basis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The meeting was attended by Additional DG Headquarters, Chief Town Planner-I, Chief Town Planner-II, Chief IT Officer, Director Administration, all Directors of the LDA Town Planning Wing, Director Architect, Chief Security Officer, and other relevant officials.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has amended the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act to bring home based tuition centres, coaching centres and academies operating in residential areas under the definition of private educational institutions and the tax system.
Under the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act 2026, tuition centres run from homes, including those operated by women and girls, along with small coaching centres and neighbourhood academies, will now be recognised as private educational institutions.
The amended law states that buildings and properties used by these institutions will fall under the property tax regime, while electricity and water connections will be treated as commercial.
Small private schools operating in residential areas will also come under the tax system, regardless of whether they are registered or unregistered.
The decision has received criticism from the All Pakistan Private Schools Colleges Association, which has called for the withdrawal of the amendment.
The association said the move could particularly affect women and girls who provide home based tuition to a limited number of students to support their household incomes.
It added that treating small scale tuition centres as commercial establishments could increase property and utility related expenses and create additional pressure on low income families.
The association has urged the Punjab government to reconsider commercial taxes and property related charges on home based tuition centres.