LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has approved the establishment of new small industrial estates in Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Kot Pindi Das to promote industrial land development and business activity across the province. The government has also decided to accelerate work on the expansion of Sundar Industrial Estate-II in Lahore. The decisions were taken at the 137th board meeting of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), chaired by Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain. The meeting was informed that land has already been identified for the proposed industrial estates. From a real estate perspective, the initiative is significant as the development of new industrial estates could increase demand for industrial plots, factory units, warehouses, commercial facilities and supporting infrastructure in these cities. The Punjab Industries Department has also compiled district-level data on thousands of industrial units to support industrial planning across the province. The board also approved the establishment of a new industrial park in Gujranwala. In addition, a Rs500 million interest-free loan scheme was approved for women investors and artisans, under which loans ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs10 million will be provided. Another Rs500 million revolving fund was approved to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). New businesses will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs10 million, while existing businesses seeking expansion will be able to obtain loans of up to Rs5 million. A key decision concerning industrial real estate was the approval of a relief package for allottees whose plots in Sundar Industrial Estate-II had been cancelled. Under the approved package, eligible allottees will receive a 20 percent relief on outstanding dues upon payment according to the prescribed terms. However, they will be required to commence factory construction within six months and bring their industrial units into production within two years. The Punjab Small Industries Corporation’s 2026 auction programme for industrial and commercial plots includes Sundar Industrial Estate-II as well as industrial centres in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Bahawalpur and other cities. The programme reflects the government’s broader focus on putting industrial land into productive economic use. According to the Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce, a major programme will be launched this year to upgrade infrastructure in Punjab’s 23 small industrial estates. The programme will include improvements to roads, sewerage and drainage systems. The government believes that better industrial infrastructure will help attract investment, create employment opportunities and strengthen small and medium-sized businesses. From a real estate perspective, the impact of new industrial estates is expected to extend beyond factory plots. Industrial development can generate demand for warehouses, transport facilities, workshops, commercial centres and residential accommodation for workers and business communities. As a result, industrial and adjoining commercial and residential real estate activity could increase over time in Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and other areas where new industrial estates are planned.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan A meeting chaired by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq reviewed digital reforms, field inspections and the monitoring system in the Town Planning Wing, with a focus on integrating town planning activities into digital systems and improving service delivery. The LDA DG directed that complete data of the Town Planning Wing be updated on the monitoring dashboard without delay. He also ordered the early implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inspections and field activities to ensure greater transparency and effectiveness in enforcement operations. He directed the authorities to develop an effective digital mechanism to prevent illegal commercial activities and improve the recovery of fines. He said digital monitoring of field operations, inspections and sealing drives would strengthen oversight and enable the authority to take quicker action against violations. Tahir Farooq further directed that all teams conducting inspection and sealing operations in the field must prominently display QR-code-based identification cards. He also ordered strict action against private individuals misusing the LDA’s name while carrying out activities or operations. The DG instructed the Chief IT Officer to immediately update the monitoring dashboard for the digital mapping of illegal commercial properties. He stressed that modern technology should be effectively utilised to improve the identification and monitoring of illegal commercial activities and strengthen the mechanism for recovery of fines. He directed the concerned officers to take all possible measures to facilitate citizens and improve service delivery. Officers of the Town Planning and Housing Wings were also instructed to ensure digital monitoring of field teams and maintain effective oversight of field activities. The meeting was attended by the Additional DG Housing, Chief IT Officer, Chief Town Planner-I, Chief Town Planner-II, Chief Metropolitan Planner, Director Finance and Director Revenue, among other senior officials.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has suspended the Green Property Certificate system for a period of six months following concerns over the accuracy of land ownership records, property transactions and difficulties reported during the initial implementation of the new system. The suspension was announced during a session of the Punjab Assembly, where Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman informed lawmakers that the government had decided to temporarily halt the system after several issues emerged during its implementation. The Green Property Certificate was introduced as part of efforts to modernise property documentation and improve the verification of land ownership through digital records. However, concerns raised in the provincial legislature have prompted the government to review the system and address reported shortcomings before its implementation resumes. During the assembly proceedings, Opposition Leader Rana Aftab Ahmed criticised the existing land record system and alleged that corruption continued to affect the functioning of the Land Department. He also questioned whether the Green Property Certificate had actually improved the process of buying and selling property or reduced difficulties faced by citizens. Rana Aftab further highlighted the absence of an effective one-window mechanism for property transactions. He said citizens continued to face complications when dealing with ownership documents, property transfers and related land records, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current procedures. Another lawmaker, Raja Shaukat Bhatti, raised concerns over discrepancies in ownership records. He pointed to cases in which multiple individuals were reportedly shown as owners of the same two-acre piece of land. Such instances, he said, raised serious questions about the accuracy, verification and reliability of digital land records. MPA Amjad Ali Javed also informed the assembly that he had previously warned the Senior Member Board of Revenue about potential problems associated with the new certificate system. The issue also prompted a legal and procedural question from the Punjab Assembly Speaker, who questioned whether the provincial government could suspend a system that had already received approval from the assembly. He suggested that where an assembly-approved measure is being suspended, the legislature should also have a role in the decision-making process. The six-month suspension is expected to provide the provincial government with an opportunity to examine the reported weaknesses in land ownership records, property verification, transaction procedures and the implementation of the Green Property Certificate system. The development could temporarily affect property buyers, sellers, investors and other stakeholders who rely on land record documentation for property transfers across Punjab. Citizens involved in property transactions are therefore advised to confirm the latest documentation requirements and procedures with the relevant land record authorities before completing a sale, purchase or transfer. The government’s review will be closely watched by the property sector, particularly as accurate ownership records and transparent transfer procedures remain critical to preventing disputes, fraudulent transactions and complications in Punjab’s real estate market.