LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Property buyers across Punjab can now check the legal status of housing societies online before purchasing a plot or house, as the provincial government expands its digital verification system aimed at improving transparency and reducing fraud in the real estate market. The facility is available through the Punjab Land Records Authority's Housing Societies Management System (HSMS), which provides citizens with an online directory for conducting an initial verification of housing schemes operating across the province. Through PLRA's official housing society directory, prospective buyers can search for a scheme by selecting the relevant authority, division, district, tehsil and housing society name. Available records can then provide information about the scheme, including its legal classification. The initiative is particularly significant for property buyers who previously had to rely heavily on information supplied by developers, dealers or housing societies themselves when determining whether a project had the necessary approvals. However, the online directory represents only one component of a broader restructuring of Punjab's property registration and housing-society management system. Earlier in 2026, the Punjab government moved towards bringing private housing societies under a unified digital verification framework through HSMS. The reforms are intended to reduce dependence on the traditional "file" system under which property rights and transactions were frequently represented through documents issued by developers rather than through a centralised government-backed ownership record. Under the new framework, property transactions are increasingly being linked with verified plot locations and records maintained through PLRA. The transition has moved particularly rapidly in Lahore. Housing societies falling within the jurisdiction of the Lahore Development Authority were directed to transfer and integrate their property records with PLRA's HSMS by June 30, 2026. From July 1, the new system effectively shifted plot transactions in participating Lahore housing schemes towards PLRA backed property certificates instead of the conventional developer issued file system. The reform is designed to create a more traceable record of property ownership and transactions while reducing risks associated with duplicate files, fraudulent allotments, disputed ownership and the sale of plots whose physical location or regulatory status may be unclear. The Punjab Land Records Authority is well positioned to operate the system because it already manages much of the province's digitised land record infrastructure. Established under the Punjab Land Records Authority Act 2017 and operating under the Board of Revenue Punjab, PLRA was created as part of the province's transition from traditional manual land records towards a centralised digital system. The authority has subsequently expanded its role in property documentation and has been working towards bringing private housing society records within a more formal registration and verification framework. The latest online facility could provide an important additional layer of protection for people considering investments in housing projects, particularly in a market where questions surrounding approvals, land ownership, layout plans and no-objection certificates can substantially affect the value and legality of a property. The system, however, should not be treated as a complete substitute for legal due diligence. An online search can provide buyers with an initial indication of a housing society's status, but purchasers should still verify ownership documents, approved layout plans, relevant NOCs, registration records and the title and status of the underlying land. For high-value transactions, independent legal verification remains particularly important. The introduction of the searchable directory therefore gives buyers an additional screening mechanism before they hand over money to a developer, property dealer or seller. A society appearing in the official database can provide useful information for further investigation, while an absent, incomplete or unclear record should prompt buyers to seek additional verification from the relevant development authority and PLRA before proceeding with a transaction. The development also signals a broader change in Punjab's real estate market. As housing societies become increasingly integrated with PLRA's digital infrastructure, government-backed property records and certificates are expected to assume greater importance in transactions that have traditionally depended heavily on developer maintained records. For buyers, the practical message is straightforward: checking the official digital record should now become one of the first steps before purchasing a plot or house in a private housing scheme in Punjab.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority has sealed a total of 80 properties across different parts of the city in a major operation against illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercialisation fees. Acting on the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, teams from the Town Planning Wing carried out enforcement operations in areas falling under the authority’s controlled jurisdiction. The action covered Gulberg, Model Town Extension, Canal Road, Shadman, New Muslim Town, Poonch Road and Mustafa Town, where residential and commercial properties were inspected for regulatory violations. According to the LDA, 25 properties were sealed in Gulberg and Model Town Extension for being used for unauthorised commercial purposes. Another 47 properties were sealed on Canal Road, in Shadman, New Muslim Town and Poonch Road over illegal commercial use and failure to pay outstanding commercialisation fees. In a separate recovery operation in Mustafa Town, Town Planning Wing teams sealed eight additional properties for non-payment of dues, bringing the total number of sealed properties to 80. The LDA said the sealed premises included private schools, clinics, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, shops, showrooms, offices and other commercial establishments. Officials said action was taken against properties where commercial activities were being carried out in violation of the approved land use or where owners had failed to clear outstanding commercialisation charges. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad-uz-Zaman, with teams from the Town Planning Wing carrying out simultaneous enforcement actions in different areas of the city. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and properties with outstanding commercialisation fees would continue across LDA-controlled areas. He directed the relevant wings to ensure strict enforcement of building and commercialisation regulations and to continue action against violations without discrimination.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority’s Governing Body has approved a combined budget of Rs 88.613 billion for LDA and TEPA for fiscal year 2026-27, while setting a revenue target of Rs 47 billion for the authority during the current financial year. The meeting also approved several major initiatives, including the launch of a new Pine Sector in LDA City, development of commercial plots for a proposed tech park near Arfa Karim Tower, and the introduction of maintenance charges in three LDA housing schemes. The sixth meeting of the LDA Governing Body was chaired by LDA Vice Chairman Mian Marghoob Ahmad. Parliamentary Secretary for Housing Barrister Sultan Bajwa, WASA Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shahbaz, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq and senior officials from relevant departments attended the meeting. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq briefed the Governing Body on various agenda items. The meeting approved the combined Rs88.613 billion budget for LDA and TEPA for FY2026-27. A separate budget of Rs 3.5 billion was approved for TEPA, while Rs 10 billion has been earmarked by the Punjab government as a loan for Structure Plan roads and Rs 6.3 billion for Annual Development Programme schemes. A total of Rs 12.5 billion has been allocated for development works in LDA City, Rs 13.5 billion for sustainable development and urban regeneration, and Rs 4 billion for LDA Avenue One. The Governing Body set a revenue target of Rs 17 billion for Town Planning during the current fiscal year. A further Rs19.2 billion revenue target has been set under Sales and Allotment, including Rs 15 billion expected from LDA City alone. The meeting also approved proposed amendments to the LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019. The Governing Body approved a pilot project to improve cleanliness and other municipal services in LDA Avenue One, Jubilee Town and LDA Enclave through the introduction of maintenance charges. Maintenance charges will apply to residential and commercial properties measuring three, five, seven and 10 marlas, as well as one kanal, in the three schemes. However, LDA will provide the services free of charge for the first two months. The meeting also approved a plan to develop and market plots for a tech park on 118 kanals of land along Ferozepur Road, adjacent to Arfa Karim Tower. The proposed LDA Tech Park will offer commercial plots measuring one kanal, 15 marlas and eight marlas. The Governing Body also approved the launch of a new Pine Sector in LDA City, which will include commercial plots of different sizes as well as one-kanal residential plots. Officials also gave a detailed briefing on LDA City’s revenue generation plan, while approval was granted for the installation of solar-powered streetlights in different blocks of the scheme. The Governing Body further approved an allocation of Rs100 million during the current fiscal year for initiatives being undertaken jointly by LDA and UNICEF to make Lahore a child-friendly city. Several agenda items relating to the LDA Sales and Allotment Directorate were also approved. The Governing Body appreciated the performance of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq and his team in revenue generation during the previous fiscal year. According to officials, LDA achieved a record Rs 32 billion in revenue last year, the highest in its history. The meeting was also attended by Technical Member Akbar Sheikh, Technical Member Abdul Hannan and representatives of the Finance, Housing and Local Government departments, WASA and the Commissioner’s Office. Additional Directors General for Housing, Headquarters and Urban Planning, Chief Engineer-I, Chief Town Planners, the Chief Metropolitan Planner, and directors from Finance, Auction, LDA City, TEPA and Housing also attended the meeting.