Lahore Division

The Punjab cabinet has unanimously deferred a proposal to cut the commercialisation fee from 20% to 10% of a property’s DC valuation, leaving applicants without immediate relief. Sources said the fee for declaring a property commercial currently stands at 20% of its DC valuation. In anticipation of the proposed reduction, many property owners had waited for the rate to fall, and several had not paid challans issued for commercialisation cases. The proposal was deferred amid concerns that the reduction could cause significant losses to the public exchequer. The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) could also face a substantial annual shortfall in commercialisation fee revenue.

Lahore Fort’s historic Akbari Gate has been restored after remaining closed since British rule, paving the way for a new public entrance linking the fort with the Walled City. Authorities plan to install a ticketing booth before opening the gate for visitors and local residents. A soft launch ceremony was held to mark the restoration of the gate and the Curator’s House, another historic structure within the fort. The conservation work was carried out under the Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone (HURL) project. Launched in 2022, the project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA) in partnership with Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCS-P). PWCA Director General Najmus Saqib said the restored entrance would improve public access to heritage sites, attract tourists and create economic opportunities. Reopening the gate is expected to provide a more direct connection between Lahore Fort and the surrounding Walled City. The Curator’s House, a British-era building that was previously used as a guard room and later for administrative and residential purposes, is set to be converted into an eatery for visitors. AKCS-P Chief Executive Officer Tausif Khawaja said the conservation work was intended to preserve Lahore’s cultural heritage while supporting local communities and economic activity.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has begun developing a new green belt along Shanghai Road. The strip will stretch 3.3 kilometres from the Ferozepur Road link to the Kamahan Motorway and will be 12 feet wide. PHA Managing Director Ahmed Usman Javed said the project would include 2,000 native trees, including Sukh Chain, Arjun, Terminalia, Tabebuia and Kachnar. Grass and local flowers will also be planted along the green belt. Javed said the project was expected to help improve the local environment. He added that the PHA was continuing to develop and maintain green belts under its “Green Lahore” vision. The authority has urged residents to help protect the city’s green belts and plants so the new plantation can be preserved and the area can remain green.