LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab is playing an important role in providing swift, affordable and effective justice to the public. He said the timely delivery of justice to complainants is a fundamental responsibility of state institutions, as delayed justice is effectively a denial of justice. The governor expressed these views during a meeting with Ombudsperson Punjab Ayesha Hamid at Governor House Lahore. During the meeting, a commitment was expressed to continue cooperation for the resolution of citizens’ complaints against government departments, including the Board of Revenue, development authorities and district governments. Ayesha Hamid presented the institution’s Annual Report 2025 to the governor and gave a detailed briefing on the overall performance of the Ombudsman’s Office, complaint redressal, staff training, digitalisation initiatives and measures aimed at strengthening institutional capacity. Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan appreciated the performance of the Ombudsman Punjab and said that the timely redressal of public complaints strengthens citizens’ trust in state institutions. He said that when he assumed the office of Punjab Governor, appeals filed against the decisions of the Ombudsman Punjab had been pending at the Governor’s Office for the past three years. However, those appeals were disposed of on a priority basis, providing relief to the public. The governor said there should be no delay in the process of delivering justice, as ordinary citizens place great expectations in institutions such as the Ombudsman for the resolution of issues related to government departments. He assured that the Governor’s Office would continue to extend full cooperation for resolving public complaints and improving institutional performance. During the briefing, Ayesha Hamid said the Office of the OmbudsmanPunjab received twice as many complaints in 2025 compared with the previous year. She said prompt action was taken on these complaints, ensuring timely relief for complainants. She further said that a modern digital system is being introduced to make the institution’s performance more effective and transparent. The system, she added, would help speed up the registration, monitoring and implementation process of complaints and decisions. Ayesha Hamid said special attention is also being given to the professional training of officers and staff at the Ombudsperson Punjab Office so that public complaints can be heard and resolved more efficiently. She said the institution’s objective is to provide immediate relief to citizens while protecting them from unnecessary delays, complications and expenses. Secretary Ombudsman Punjab Qaiser Saleem and Additional Secretary Governor’s Office Dr Anwar Kharral were also present during the meeting.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Nishat Group has strongly rejected reports circulating on social media regarding any change in ownership structure or possible redevelopment plans linked to Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited, describing the claims as speculative, unverified and entirely unfounded. In a public clarification, prominent businessman Mian Mohammad Mansha said the group had taken notice of information being shared online about Nishat Group and Rafhan Maize. He stated that no proposal related to ownership changes, restructuring, or redevelopment of Rafhan Maize property had been approved, nor was any such proposal currently under consideration. Mian Mansha urged the public, investors and media outlets to avoid sharing unverified information, stressing that speculative reports can create unnecessary confusion in the market and among stakeholders. The clarification comes after the Competition Commission of Pakistan recently approved the acquisition of shareholding in Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited by a consortium of acquirers comprising Nishat Group entities and associated individuals. According to the earlier approval, the transaction involves the acquisition of shares in Rafhan Maize from Ingredion Incorporated, the majority seller, along with other individual shareholders. The deal was cleared after a Phase I review under Section 11 of the Competition Act, 2010. The acquiring entities include Nishat Hotels and Properties Limited, D.G. Khan Cement Company Limited, Nishat Mills Limited, Lalpir Power Limited, Pakgen Power Limited, Nishat Power Limited, Nishat Chunian Power Limited and associated individuals. Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited is one of Pakistan’s leading industrial food ingredients and corn refining companies. The company has long held an important position in the country’s manufacturing and food supply chain. The Nishat Group’s clarification appears aimed at addressing speculation that emerged after the share acquisition approval, particularly claims suggesting that the deal could lead to a change in the company’s future operational direction or the redevelopment of its assets. The group maintained that any public discussion about such matters must be based on verified information and official statements rather than social media speculation.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has started preparing major changes to housing rules to promote low cost residential projects in the province. The proposed amendments are aimed at encouraging the private sector to construct affordable homes, increase investment in the housing sector and improve residential opportunities for ordinary citizens. According to sources, the Punjab government has prepared a proposal to amend the “Affordable Private Housing Schemes Rules”. Under the proposed changes, private and cooperative housing schemes may be required to allocate at least 20 percent of their residential area for low-cost housing. As per the proposed policy, this allocated portion in any private or cooperative housing scheme will be considered an “Affordable Housing Scheme”. Officials said housing schemes that allocate more than 20 percent of their area for low-cost residential projects will be given special incentives. The policy proposals suggest that schemes allocating a larger share for low-cost housing may receive 20 to 80 percent concessions in various government fees. These concessions may include approval fees related to maps, water supply, sewerage, roads and bridges. Sources said a reduction has also been recommended in the ratio of land mortgaged for the completion of development works. The purpose of this step is to reduce financial pressure on developers and ensure timely completion of housing projects. The proposed amendments also include recommendations to simplify and speed up the approval process for housing schemes. A proposal is under consideration to reduce the approval period for different stages from 90 days to 60 days, so investors and developers do not face unnecessary delays. Officials said the new housing policy will be made part of the upcoming budget. Through this policy, the private sector will be provided effective incentives to invest in low-cost housing projects. Experts believe that if the proposed amendments are implemented effectively, the supply of affordable homes in Punjab may increase, while investment and construction activity in the housing sector could also gain momentum.