Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has approved an initial estimated cost of Rs1 billion to upgrade four major sports venues in Lahore to international standards ahead of the South Asian Games (SAF Games) scheduled to be held in Pakistan in April 2027. Lahore will host competitions in 10 sports during the regional sporting event, and the provincial government has initiated preparations to improve the sports infrastructure required for the competitions. The approval for the initial estimated cost is aimed at upgrading the selected venues and bringing their facilities in line with the requirements of international sporting events. The initiative is expected to focus on improving the existing sports infrastructure and making the venues more suitable for hosting competitions involving athletes from across South Asia. The South Asian Games are a major multi sport event in the region, bringing together athletes from South Asian countries in a range of sporting disciplines. Pakistan is scheduled to host the Games in April 2027, with Lahore among the cities selected to host competitions. Under the Lahore preparations, four major sports venues will be upgraded for the 10 sporting events allocated to the city. The Rs1 billion initial estimated cost has been approved by the Punjab government as part of preparations for the event. The upgrade programme is also expected to provide an opportunity to improve the city's existing sports facilities beyond the requirements of the upcoming Games. Better equipped venues can support the hosting of other major national and international sporting events in the future. Following approval of the initial estimated cost, the relevant authorities will proceed with the planning and implementation of the required upgrade works at the selected venues. The development forms part of preparations for the South Asian Games and reflects the provincial government's focus on strengthening sports infrastructure in Lahore ahead of the regional event. The upgraded venues are intended to provide an international standard environment for athletes and officials participating in the competitions scheduled to take place in the city.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan Pakistan Railways has significantly increased revenue from its commercial assets after auctioning 125 godowns at Badami Bagh, Lahore, raising annual lease income by more than four times compared with the previous arrangement. According to railway authorities, the transparent auction increased the annual lease revenue from Rs 72.2 million to Rs 331.08 million, representing a 358.6 per cent increase. The auction is expected to provide a substantially stronger and recurring revenue stream from the railway’s commercial property assets. In addition to the annual lease income, Pakistan Railways will receive Rs 277.72 million as an upfront security deposit equivalent to one year’s lease value. This brings the total first-year financial realisation from the auction to approximately Rs 608.80 million. Railway authorities said the overall cash flow generated through the auction represented a 743.5 per cent increase compared with the previous year, highlighting the financial potential of better utilisation and transparent management of railway-owned commercial properties. The Badami Bagh godowns form part of Pakistan Railways’ commercial asset portfolio in Lahore, where railway-owned land and buildings are used for business and storage activities. Officials said the auction process was conducted transparently to ensure competitive bidding and improve returns from existing assets. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said transparency and protection of the national interest remained key priorities in the utilisation of railway assets. He said the effective and transparent commercial use of railway properties could contribute directly to the national exchequer, while congratulating the railway administration for conducting the auction process in a professional manner. The sharp increase in lease revenue from the Badami Bagh properties comes as Pakistan Railways seeks to strengthen its financial position by improving the commercial utilisation of its extensive land and property portfolio. The latest auction demonstrates the potential for generating higher recurring income through competitive leasing and transparent disposal mechanisms.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Lahore High Court has issued an important ruling on the rights of co-owners in jointly owned property, holding that no co-owner can unilaterally alter the nature of joint property or take any action that adversely affects the rights of other co-owners or causes damage to the jointly owned asset. The court clarified that merely being a co-owner does not give an individual exclusive ownership rights over any specific portion of jointly owned property. If a co-owner seeks to establish an exclusive right over a particular portion, the person must follow the legal procedure for partition of the property. The ruling was issued by a single bench of the Lahore High Court on a petition filed by Muhammad Ishtiaq and others. The six-page written judgment held that a suit seeking a permanent injunction against an attempt to create a passage, alter the structure or nature of jointly owned property, or cause damage to it is maintainable. However, the court noted that a mere allegation is insufficient and must be supported by evidence or a credible basis showing the alleged act or threat of damage. According to the judgment, the rights of each co-owner extend to the jointly owned property as a whole. Therefore, no co-owner can independently declare a specific portion as exclusively owned and thereby restrict the rights of other co-owners. Any determination of exclusive rights over a particular portion requires lawful partition of the property. The Lahore High Court further observed that a statement made by a party in an earlier case does not automatically become admissible evidence in subsequent proceedings. Before relying on a statement or record from previous litigation, the relevant facts and documents must be established in accordance with law. The court was informed that the record of an earlier case had been produced through a statement made by the petitioner's counsel, which the subordinate courts had relied upon while granting an injunction. The High Court held that an injunction against a co-owner must be based on legally established facts and supporting evidence rather than an unsubstantiated allegation. The court also observed that where a decision is based on material or a statement that has not been properly proved in accordance with law, the decision may be corrected in the exercise of revisional jurisdiction. The Lahore High Court set aside the judgments and decrees passed by the subordinate courts and remanded the case to the trial court for fresh adjudication. It directed that the concerned parties be given an opportunity to produce the complete record of the disputed passage and the previous litigation, along with all relevant evidence. The judgment reinforces the legal principle that co-ownership of joint property does not allow one co-owner to override the rights of others. Where an individual claims exclusive rights over a specific portion of jointly owned property, such rights must be determined through lawful partition and supported by admissible evidence.