LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore: [Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has intensified its crackdown against illegal commercial activities and commercial fee defaulters, sealing a total of 154 properties during operations across different parts of the city. The operation was carried out by the Town Planning Wing in the LDA controlled area on the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq. According to the LDA, the actions were conducted in Gulberg, New Garden Town, New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, Gulshan Ravi, Revenue Society, Naz Town and Sabzazar, where several properties were sealed over illegal commercial use, non payment of commercial fees and as part of the recovery campaign. As per details, 27 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town over illegal commercial use. Similarly, 50 properties were sealed in New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura and Gulshan Ravi for illegal commercial activity and non payment of commercial fees. Additionally, 42 properties were sealed in Revenue Society and 20 in Naz Town. During the recovery operation, 15 more properties were sealed in Sabzazar. LDA officials said the sealed properties included private schools, academies, colleges, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, food points, bakeries, beauty salons, electric stores, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial establishments found violating rules or defaulting on dues. The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali, while the relevant town planning teams carried out simultaneous actions at different locations. LDA DG Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings, commercial fee defaulters and violators of regulations would continue. He said enforcement of urban planning rules would be ensured strictly and legal action would be taken against all violations.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has allocated funding for the feasibility studies of two landmark railway projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026 27, marking a significant step towards modernising the province's transport infrastructure and improving regional connectivity. According to the ADP, the provincial government has earmarked PKR 200 million during the current fiscal year for the feasibility study of the proposed Lahore Rawalpindi High Speed Rail project. The total estimated cost of the feasibility study stands at PKR 452 million. The proposed rail corridor is expected to evaluate the technical, financial and operational viability of introducing a high speed passenger railway between Punjab's two largest urban centres, potentially reducing travel time while strengthening economic integration. In another major initiative aimed at promoting tourism, the government has allocated PKR 49 million for the feasibility and initial development of the proposed Rawalpindi Murree Glass Train project. The tourist rail scheme carries an estimated cost of PKR 117 billion and is designed to provide a scenic rail connection between Rawalpindi and the hill station of Murree. Authorities have already initiated land acquisition for the railway alignment and station sites in Murree, indicating that preparatory work is progressing alongside planning activities. The ADP further demonstrates the provincial government's emphasis on improving transport infrastructure through continued investment in strategic road projects. A sum of PKR 3 billion has been allocated for the 38 kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road project extending from Banth to the Thalian Main Carriageway. The overall project is estimated to cost PKR 47 billion, of which approximately PKR 29 billion has already been spent. To support the next phase of the Ring Road network, the government has also earmarked PKR 69 million for the feasibility study of Ring Road Phase II, which will extend the route from Thalian to GT Road. Urban mobility projects have also received funding under the development programme. The government has allocated PKR 100 million for the proposed Ammar Chowk Flyover, part of the Mall Signal Free Corridor project, which has an estimated total cost of PKR 3 billion. In addition, PKR 200 million has been reserved for the construction of the Race Course and Army Graveyard Underpasses, aimed at easing traffic congestion along key corridors. Further allocations include PKR 93 million for the Tulsa Chowk Underpass, a project estimated to cost PKR 2.691 billion, and PKR 100 million for the COD Underpass, which has an estimated cost of PKR 3.75 billion. In Gujar Khan, the provincial government has allocated PKR 100 million for the construction of two underpasses at Galiana Mor and Technical College Chowk. The combined estimated cost of these projects is PKR 4.531 billion, with the schemes expected to improve traffic flow and road safety in the rapidly expanding urban area. The allocations reflect the Punjab government's broader strategy of investing in modern rail transportation, expanding tourism infrastructure and upgrading road networks to support economic growth, improve regional connectivity and accommodate increasing urban mobility demands across the province.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] On the directives of Lahore Development Authority Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing has intensified action against illegal commercial use and non payment of commercial fees. LDA teams carried out operations in different parts of the LDA controlled area and sealed a total of 115 properties. The operations were conducted in Gulberg, Faisal Town, Samanabad, Canal Road, Gulshan Ravi and Allama Iqbal Town. According to the spokesperson, 30 properties were sealed in Gulberg and Faisal Town over illegal commercial use, while 61 properties were sealed in Samanabad, Canal Road and Gulshan Ravi for illegal commercial activity and non-payment of commercial fees. During a separate recovery operation, LDA teams also took action in Allama Iqbal Town and sealed several properties. The sealed premises included private schools, pharmacies, grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, food points, bakeries, beauty salons, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial units. The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner-I Asad uz Zaman. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action would continue against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercial fees. He said legal action would be taken without any leniency against properties violating rules within the LDA controlled area.