LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Ring Road Authority has decided to establish service areas at six different locations along the Lahore Ring Road to improve facilities for commuters and generate additional revenue through commercial operations. According to the authority, around 10 kanals of land has been allocated for each service area at selected points on the Ring Road. The proposed locations include Bahria Town, DHA, Haloki, Shafiqpura and other key sections of the route. The planned service areas will provide multiple facilities for motorists and passengers, including food courts, fuel stations, parking spaces, rest areas and other essential amenities. Officials said the project is aimed at making travel on the Lahore Ring Road more convenient, safer and better equipped for daily commuters as well as long distance road users. The Lahore Ring Road Authority has invited applications from experienced operators, firms and companies for the development and operation of these service areas. Successful bidders will be selected through a transparent and competitive process. Under the proposed arrangement, the service areas will be leased for a period of 20 years. The successful operator will also have the option to extend the lease for another 25 years, subject to the terms and conditions set by the authority. LRRA has set June 25, 2026, as the last date for submitting applications. Interested firms and companies have been asked to apply within the given deadline. Officials said the project will not only improve facilities for road users but will also help increase the revenue of the Lahore Ring Road Authority. They added that the initiative is part of efforts to upgrade public infrastructure and provide modern travel-related services on major road networks in Lahore.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has set June 30 as the deadline for the completion of all priority development schemes, while directing relevant officials to speed up work on ongoing infrastructure projects and ensure the immediate restoration of roads affected by pipeline-laying activities. WASA Managing Director Saqib Raza issued these directions while chairing a review meeting on development projects. The meeting reviewed progress on various schemes in detail, with particular focus on three major projects being executed under the Chief Minister’s Package. The MD WASA made it clear that all priority works must be completed within the stipulated timeframe. Saqib Raza directed contractors to accelerate construction activities and instructed consultant agencies to ensure strict monitoring of the projects. He said transparency, quality and timely completion must remain the top priorities during the implementation of development schemes. The MD WASA also directed that priority schemes being carried out under the Punjab Development Programme should be completed by the end of June. He stressed that public inconvenience must be minimized in areas where infrastructure work is under way, especially in localities where roads have been damaged due to pipeline installation. According to the instructions, road restoration work should begin immediately in areas where pipeline installation has been completed. Officials were also asked to conduct a comprehensive survey of streets and roads affected by development works so that rehabilitation can begin without unnecessary delay. On the occasion, Captain (retd) Nadeem Nasir highlighted the importance of early completion of sewerage upgradation projects. He said these projects are crucial for improving the urban drainage system and providing relief to citizens ahead of the upcoming monsoon season. Officials reiterated their commitment to the timely completion of development schemes, improvement of sewerage and drainage infrastructure, and rehabilitation of affected roads. The timely completion of these projects is expected to improve civic facilities, reduce drainage-related issues and ease public difficulties.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has launched a major exercise to identify and commercialize vacant, unused and underutilized state-owned properties as part of efforts to achieve a Rs 500 billion revenue target in the next fiscal year. The Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department has issued a letter to 12 public institutions, directing them to submit complete details of residential and commercial properties owned by the government. The move is aimed at assessing the commercial potential of state assets and preparing a structured plan to generate revenue from them. According to the letter, nine development authorities and three other government bodies have been asked to provide the required information. The letter has been sent to the director generals of the Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan and Koh-e-Suleman development authorities. The chief executive officer of the Ravi Urban Development Authority, the director general of the Punjab Housing and Planning Agency, and the chief executive officer of the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority have also been directed to submit relevant records. The department said that vacant, unused and underutilized government properties could play an important role in helping the province meet its Rs. 500 billion revenue target for the upcoming fiscal year. Authorities have been instructed to compile comprehensive data on all state-owned residential and commercial assets that are not being fully utilized. The institutions have also been asked to share details of properties that have already been sold, leased, auctioned, licensed or put to any other use. Officials said the exercise would help the government determine the current status of public properties and identify further opportunities for revenue generation. In addition to property records, the agencies have been directed to identify roads, corridors and areas with strong commercial potential. They have been asked to submit recommendations on how such locations can be used more effectively to generate income for the provincial government. The letter further directed the institutions to assess the market value of land and properties, evaluate their commercialization potential and identify practical revenue-generation opportunities. The departments have also been asked to prepare detailed action plans along with implementation timelines for achieving their respective revenue targets. Officials believe the initiative could help Punjab make better use of public assets, reduce pressure on traditional revenue sources and promote planned commercial activity in urban and developing areas across the province.