LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Development Authority has intensified its operations against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters, sealing 191 properties during a large scale operation in different parts of the city. According to the LDA, the actions were carried out by the Town Planning Wing on the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq. The operation was conducted in Gulberg, New Garden Town, Samsani Road Johar Town, Canal Road, Gulshan Ravi, New Muslim Town, Allama Iqbal Town and Sabzazar, as well as other LDA controlled areas. Officials said 28 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town over illegal commercial use and non payment of commercial fees, while action was taken against 85 properties on Samsani Road in Johar Town. Similarly, 43 properties were sealed on Canal Road, in Gulshan Ravi and New Muslim Town. LDA teams also sealed 35 properties during a recovery operation in Allama Iqbal Town and Sabzazar. In total, 191 properties were sealed during the operation. The sealed properties included private schools, colleges, academies, restaurants, food points, beauty salons, clinics, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial establishments. The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali. LDA officials said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said illegal commercial activities, violations of building laws and non payment of dues would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He said all relevant wings had been mobilised to ensure implementation of LDA regulations.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lieutenant General Retired Nazir Ahmed has said that comprehensive and historic reforms will be introduced to promote transparency, protect investors and improve ease of doing business in the real estate sector. According to him, effective measures are being taken to eliminate fraud, file culture and non transparent transactions, so that the real estate sector can be brought under a transparent, organised and reliable system. Addressing a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the NAB chairman said that in future real estate projects, the transfer of plots and ownership will be carried out through a regulator. He said cash transactions would be discouraged and all payments would preferably be made through banking channels, enabling better protection of investors’ rights and complete tracking of financial transactions. According to the NAB chairman, no housing scheme will be allowed to sell more plots than the actual number available. Each plot will have a proper identification record, which will help curb issues such as fake files, multiple sales of the same plot and illegal booking. He said NAB was working to make the accountability process more effective, transparent and business friendly. The meeting was also addressed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Faheem ur Rehman Sehgal and NAB Lahore Director General Mirza Faran Baig. On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Lahore Chamber and NAB to promote mutual cooperation. The NAB chairman also inaugurated the NAB Executive Facilitation Office established at the Lahore Chamber and planted a tree on the chamber premises. The NAB chairman said NAB considers the business community an engine of growth for Pakistan’s economy and will provide every possible support for the promotion of business activities within the limits of the law. He said NAB’s purpose is not to create unnecessary difficulties for the business community, but to ensure the prevention of corruption, fraud and illegal financial activities. Lahore Chamber President Faheem ur Rehman Sehgal said transparency, justice and the rule of law are the foundation of a strong economy. He stressed the need to further improve governance in public institutions and said the business community needs facilitation, confidence and continuity of policies. The NAB chairman further said that work is under way on memorandums of understanding with different countries, including matters related to prevention of money laundering and information sharing. According to him, positive progress has been made with Saudi Arabia, while hurdles still remain with some countries. He said matters related to funds being transferred to major financial centres, including Singapore and Hong Kong, were also under consideration, and efforts were being made to stop the flow of illegal financial transfers. The NAB chairman said investment had started coming into the real estate and other sectors, and if this trend continued, the country’s economy would improve.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore Development Authority has decided to end the buying and selling of files in private and public housing schemes located within LDA limits. From July 1, 2026, the buying and selling of plots will be allowed only through PLRA’s property certificate. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq with representatives of private housing schemes. The meeting reviewed matters related to the issuance of property certificates, digital transfer of records and linking housing schemes with a uniform software system. DG LDA Tahir Farooq said that from July 1, file trading in all schemes operating within LDA limits will be stopped. According to him, private housing schemes are required to transfer their complete records to the Punjab Land Records Authority’s Housing Societies Management System by June 30. He made it clear that linking the records of private housing schemes with PLRA’s HSMS system will be mandatory. After July 1, citizens will be able to buy and sell plots only through property certificates, while legal action will be taken against schemes that fail to shift to the system. Tahir Farooq said a QR code will be placed on the property certificate, through which all information related to the plot will be available with a single click. A public awareness campaign will also be launched to guide citizens about the new digital system, property certificates and the end of file trading. According to the DG LDA, private schemes are being given sub registrar powers under the uniform software system, while LDA and PLRA will jointly provide training to the private sector on the use of the software. Private housing schemes will also be able to issue green certificates and registries through the digital portal. During the meeting, representatives of private housing schemes welcomed the digital reforms and said the initiative would increase transparency in the real estate sector and restore investors’ confidence. The meeting was attended by the Chief Metropolitan Planning officer, Directors of Metropolitan Planning, Chairman ABAD, owners and representatives of private housing schemes, and representatives of PLRA, LDA and the Senior Member Board of Revenue.