LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] Director General of the Lahore Development Authority, Tahir Farooq, visited the Data Darbar expansion project and Bhati Chowk Underpass, where he reviewed in detail the progress of development work on both major projects. During the visit, TEPA Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain and the project director briefed the LDA director general on the current status of the projects, the pace of construction and the next phases of work. Tahir Farooq inspected different sections of the Bhati Chowk Underpass and directed the relevant officials to further accelerate development work in the public interest. The briefing stated that around 50 percent of work on the Bhati Chowk Underpass has been completed, while excavation work on the underpass ramps is progressing rapidly. Officials said construction activities are also continuing on the underpass barrel and Ramp Two, with the work being carried out according to the required standards. The LDA director general also reviewed different components of the Data Darbar expansion project. Officials briefed him that finishing work is under way on the parking area and toilet block of the project, while the grey structure of the pedestrian underpass has been completed and finishing work has now begun. Officials further said that finishing work on the pedestrian zone at Data Darbar is also progressing at a fast pace. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq directed officials to speed up work on the facades of properties around Data Darbar, saying the project should be completed at the earliest in view of improved civic facilities, traffic management and convenience for visitors. He made it clear that safety SOPs must be strictly ensured during development work so that the safety of workers, citizens and visitors is not compromised. The LDA director general also directed the relevant officers that there should be no compromise on the quality of the projects and that all work should be completed within the prescribed timeline.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Lahore district administration has launched a major land record correction operation to resolve thousands of long pending cases involving missing mutations, blocked ownership records, incomplete transfers and errors in digitised land records. The initiative has been started to provide relief to citizens who have been facing delays and complications in the correction and updating of their property records across Lahore. A high level meeting in this regard was held at Nadra Hall under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Lahore Hafiz Kareem Dad Chughtai. During the meeting, assistant commissioners were directed to ensure early resolution of public complaints and complete the assigned targets within the prescribed timeframe. Revenue authorities have set a 30 day deadline to dispose of 20,759 mutation related cases. These include missing entries, pending ownership transfers, incomplete record updates and other discrepancies in the digitised land record system. According to officials, 6,377 missing mutations will be corrected within one month, while 1,309 khewat related cases have also been marked for urgent disposal. Khewat blocks often create serious difficulties for property owners by restricting access to ownership records and delaying legal or administrative transactions. To ensure proper monitoring of the operation, supervisory responsibility has been assigned to Rana Khalid, Deputy Director of the Punjab Land Records Authority. He will oversee progress across relevant centres and ensure timely compliance with the targets fixed by the administration. A detailed workload has also been assigned to different land record centres in Lahore. The Cantt Land Record Centre will address 811 mutation issues, 305 missing mutations and 93 khewat cases. The City Land Record Centres have been tasked with resolving 1,686 mutation cases, 582 missing mutations and 217 khewat related discrepancies. The Model Town Centre will deal with 1,899 mutation issues, 364 missing mutations and 160 khewat cases. The Raiwind Land Record Centre carries the largest backlog, with 6,991 mutation related issues and 1,159 missing mutations. Officials said these cases will be taken up on an urgent basis due to the scale of pending complaints. Meanwhile, the Shalimar Centre will resolve 1,305 mutation issues, 1,383 missing mutations and 65 khewat cases. The district administration has directed assistant commissioners to submit daily progress reports during the operation. Tehsildars, service centre in charges and assistant directors of land records will directly supervise the correction process at their respective centres. Officials said the campaign is aimed at improving service delivery in Lahore’s revenue system and restoring public confidence in land record management. They said timely correction of property records is essential for reducing disputes, facilitating legal transfers and protecting citizens from unnecessary delays. The operation follows decisions taken in a meeting held on April 30, 2026, where measures were reviewed to improve revenue services and address public complaints related to land records in Lahore.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has formally launched a unique free housing project for the working class, under which 720 labourer families have become owners of their flats. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the project by handing over keys and allotment letters to the workers. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif attended the ceremony held under the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution, PESSI, for the provision of 720 flats. During the ceremony, she was briefed on the free flats project and other ongoing initiatives of the Labour Department. According to officials, special priority has been given to widows and persons with disabilities in the Sundar Estate Flats Project. A documentary highlighting various programmes of the Punjab Labour Department and welfare measures for workers was also presented during the event. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif handed over allotment letters and keys of the flats to labourers free of cost. Under the widow category, Sonia Pervaiz received the allotment letter and keys of a flat, while hearing impaired Yasir Hanif and polio survivor Farhan Ali were also given allotment letters and keys for free flats. Similarly, Muhammad Wasif, Shahadat Ali, Abida Ali, Kausar Bibi, senior worker Victor Hector and Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, among other workers, were also given allotment letters and keys. Labourer families appeared visibly delighted after receiving their homes. Congratulating the worker families on getting their own homes, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said labourers are friends of Allah. “Congratulations on having your own roof, your own home and your own house,” she said. She added that the welfare of the working class remains among the government’s top priorities. Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Labour Minister Manshaullah Butt said the Punjab Labour Department was once considered an unnoticed department, but in 1988 Muhammad Nawaz Sharif introduced revolutionary measures for labourers. He said having a roof over one’s head is every worker’s dream, and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has turned that dream into reality. Manshaullah Butt said Maryam Nawaz Sharif is the country’s first chief minister to provide free flats to labourers. He added that the project is not merely about housing for the working class, but also an important step toward dignity, protection and economic security.