LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Private housing societies in Lahore have until August 31, 2026 to upload their complete property purchase and sale records to the Housing Societies Management System (HSMS), as Punjab moves towards a digital system aimed at making property ownership easier to verify and reducing fraud. The deadline has attracted attention on social media, where several property pages are describing it as a major change for buyers and investors. However, the August 31 deadline applies mainly to housing societies for completing the transfer of their records to the digital system. For property buyers and sellers in Lahore, the more important change has already taken effect. According to a public notice displayed by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), a Property Certificate has been required for property transactions in Lahore housing schemes since July 1, 2026. Under the new system, the Property Certificate serves as official proof linked to property ownership records. The move is intended to reduce dependence on traditional files and make it easier to check whether the person selling a property is recorded as its owner. Private housing societies have been directed to place their purchase and sale records on HSMS by August 31. Reports on the government directive say societies that fail to comply may face action under the LDA Act, 1975. The Punjab Land Records Authority also describes its Green Property Certificate as an official document used to verify the ownership and legal status of a property. For buyers, the change means that relying only on a property file, allotment letter or a dealer's claim may no longer be enough. Before making a payment, buyers should check the status of the housing scheme and confirm that the property can be verified through the official digital record. LDA currently provides separate online sections for approved, illegal and regular housing schemes, along with tools for checking property and application status. The digitalisation drive could become particularly important in Lahore's property market, where disputes over ownership, duplicate files and incomplete society records have long remained a concern for buyers. With the August 31 deadline approaching, the key question will be how many private housing societies complete their digital records on time and what action authorities take against schemes that remain outside the system.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has issued new billing guidelines for restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and food chains across Punjab in a move aimed at improving tax transparency and ensuring customers receive proper receipts. Under the new instructions, restaurants, food chains and coffee shops will be required to display the guidelines prominently at their premises. The PRA has advised customers to always demand a digital receipt after making payment at restaurants, hotels or other food outlets. According to the authority, every digital receipt must carry a PRA invoice number and QR code, allowing customers to verify that the transaction has been properly recorded. Customers have also been asked to report restaurants and other food businesses that refuse to accept digital or card payments. The PRA has already prohibited restaurants and hotels from issuing kitchen orders, unpaid bills, pre bills or temporary bills to customers instead of proper tax invoices. The new measures are intended to improve documentation of restaurant transactions, strengthen tax compliance and provide customers with greater transparency when paying their bills.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) secured a record 180 new engineering projects in Pakistan and abroad during fiscal year 2025-26, marking the highest-ever annual business acquisition in the organisation’s history. According to NESPAK Acting Managing Director Ahsan Anwar, the state owned engineering consultancy secured 172 domestic and eight international projects during the fiscal year, setting a new benchmark for annual project acquisition. He said that alongside winning new assignments, NESPAK is currently providing engineering and consultancy services on hundreds of ongoing projects in Pakistan and overseas, covering a wide range of infrastructure and development sectors. The projects being handled or secured by NESPAK span highways, motorways, dams, hydropower, irrigation and drainage systems, flood protection, river training, buildings, airports, urban development, public health engineering, power transmission and digital infrastructure. Securing 180 projects in a single fiscal year is particularly significant given NESPAK’s longstanding role as one of Pakistan’s leading state-owned engineering consultancy organisations, with involvement in the planning, design and engineering of major infrastructure and development projects across the country. The acquisition of eight international projects also reflects further expansion in NESPAK’s overseas business portfolio. The organisation continues to provide engineering expertise and consultancy services in international markets in addition to its extensive operations within Pakistan. According to NESPAK management, the organisation remains among the country’s successful and profitable state owned enterprises. The record number of projects secured during the previous fiscal year reflects continued growth in its business volume and expansion of its engineering services. The addition of new projects is expected to further increase NESPAK’s workload, particularly as demand for new infrastructure continues to grow across Pakistan in the areas of transport, water resources, energy, urban development and digital connectivity.