Lahore Division

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan The Lahore High Court has allowed a petition challenging property tax imposed on the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), located in DHA Phase V, declaring tax demands for periods before 2023 unlawful. The court also set aside the cantonment board’s tax-related orders issued in 2011 and 2017. A two-member bench issued the ruling on the university’s petition. It held that educational institutions were exempt from property tax before the law was amended in 2023 and that the amendment could not be applied retrospectively to earlier tax demands. In its written judgment, the court clarified that charging tuition fees did not, in itself, mean the university operated on a commercial basis. It noted that LUMS was a nonprofit educational institution that reinvested fee income in educational activities and scholarships for deserving students. The court further observed that the university’s management or owners did not derive personal financial benefit from those funds. An educational institution could not be classified as a commercial enterprise solely because it collected fees. Rejecting the retrospective application of the 2023 amendment, the court declared the demands for property tax relating to the earlier period unlawful.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab cabinet has approved Rs 60 billion for the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme. Under the programme, the Bank of Punjab will provide 40,000 housing loans to help families meet the cost of building their homes. According to Radio Pakistan, the approval was granted at a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. The Bank of Punjab will play a central role in providing loans under the approved financing package. Access to finance is an important step for families seeking to build a home. Loans provided through the programme could help beneficiaries meet construction expenses, while the release of funds to borrowers will be a key stage in implementing the approved package. The report outlined the provision of 40,000 housing loans but did not specify a disbursement timeline or provide further details about application procedures and beneficiary selection. At the same meeting, the cabinet also approved the establishment of horticulture authorities in 20 districts across Punjab. Alongside housing finance, the decisions include an expansion of the administrative framework for horticulture and urban green spaces.

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan Unity Heights, a 15-storey residential apartment project near DHA Phases VI and VII on Bedian Road, held its grand launch ceremony, drawing a large gathering of property dealers, investors and other real estate professionals. Attendees included former Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Abdul Basit; former DHA Estate Agents Association Lahore chairman Dr Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry; Friends Business Group Patron-in-Chief Rana Iftikhar Ahmed, President Nasir Siddiqui and Secretary Khurram Chaudhry; and prominent real estate businessmen Arshad Najmi, Shahid Yaqoob, Sheikh Javed Iqbal, Hafiz Nauman bin Zia, Murtaza Ramay and Ahsan Ali. Speakers said the project occupied a prime location and would help meet demand for quality housing in the area. They described Malik Shahid Iqbal, CEO of Unity Developers and owner of the project, as a committed and accomplished builder, congratulating him on the development and wishing him success. Speaking exclusively to ReNews Pakistan, Iqbal said the project addressed a local need and had attracted a strong response from both investors and end users. “The project has 15 floors and 321 units, with apartment sizes starting at 390 square feet and penthouses extending to around 4,000 square feet,” he said. Iqbal added that the development could accommodate offices as well as residences, with amenities including grocery, pharmacy and laundry facilities. He said basement construction had been completed and work was expected to rise above ground level within the next few days. “Our delivery timeline is three years, but, God willing, we will hand over the project well ahead of schedule,” he said. Asked about payment options, Iqbal said the project offered a three-year payment plan with easy instalments. Discussing the project’s professional team, he identified Turk Pak as the consultant and ABS as the designer, adding that experienced professionals had also been engaged for other services. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of shields to dealers and investors in recognition of their performance, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony.