LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore : Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters, sealing 63 properties and demolishing five unauthorised structures across different parts of the city and areas under its jurisdiction. Acting on the directives of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, teams from the Town Planning Wing carried out operations on LDA City Road, Shahid Town, Pak Arab Housing Scheme, Gulberg, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Shadman and Poonch Road. LDA teams demolished five illegal structures during operations on LDA City Road, Shahid Town and Pak Arab Housing Scheme. In Gulberg and Faisal Town, 25 properties were sealed over unauthorised commercial use, while another 38 properties were sealed on Canal Road, Shadman and Poonch Road for illegal commercial activity and non payment of commercialisation fees. The sealed properties included private schools, colleges, academies, halls, salons, cafes, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, clinics, hardware stores, electrical stores, pharmacies, shops, car showrooms and offices, among other commercial establishments. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asad uz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali. LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said enforcement action against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercial fees would continue withouty discrimination.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has banned handwritten and informal receipts at restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, marriage halls and other notified businesses across Punjab, making electronically generated tax receipts mandatory as part of a broader crackdown on tax evasion and manipulation of sales records. Under a notification issued by the authority, businesses covered by the new requirements must use the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (EIMS) for recording transactions and issuing receipts to customers. The PRA has warned that businesses failing to issue EIMS generated receipts could face fines ranging from Rs 400,000 to Rs 1 million. Establishments repeatedly violating the requirements may also be sealed for up to one month. The move is aimed at strengthening the monitoring of sales transactions and ensuring that businesses accurately declare their revenue for taxation purposes. Electronic invoicing allows the revenue authority to maintain a more transparent record of transactions and reduces opportunities for businesses to underreport sales through informal billing practices. Under the new rules, restaurants, marriage halls and other covered establishments will no longer be allowed to provide handwritten receipts, kitchen order slips, unpaid bills or similar documents to customers as substitutes for a proper tax invoice. Instead, customers must be provided with an official receipt containing key information including the name and address of the business, receipt number and a Punjab Revenue Authority QR code. The authority has also warned businesses against tampering with sales records or electronic invoicing systems. Strict legal action may be taken against establishments that fail to provide required records to enforcement teams or interfere with government officials performing their duties. PRA enforcement officers have been directed to take immediate action against businesses found violating the electronic invoicing requirements. The notification was issued on the instructions of PRA Chairman Muazam Iqbal Sapra, while commissioners across Punjab have been directed to ensure implementation of the measures within their respective jurisdictions. The latest enforcement measures are part of the provincial revenue authority’s efforts to bring business transactions into a documented system, improve tax compliance and prevent the concealment or manipulation of taxable sales across Punjab.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has prepared a comprehensive plan to restore and renovate 808 parks across Lahore as part of a wider initiative to improve public recreational spaces, strengthen urban greenery and enhance the city’s overall appearance. PHA Managing Director Ahmed Usman Javaid said the authority intends to involve students and members of civil society in the restoration process to encourage community participation and make public parks more attractive, functional and accessible for citizens. He said the rehabilitation programme will focus not only on the physical condition of parks but also on improving the management and maintenance of trees and plantation across the city. According to the PHA chief, trees will be geo tagged to improve monitoring and record keeping, while additional measures will be introduced to ensure better care and maintenance of Lahore’s green assets. The authority also plans to improve plantation in so called grey areas of the city, where greenery is currently limited. The initiative is aimed at increasing green cover and improving the visual character of areas that have comparatively fewer trees and landscaped spaces. Ahmed Usman Javaid said major projects including the Linx of Lahore and the Green Corridor would also contribute to the city’s beautification drive and help improve the overall performance of the authority. The proposed restoration of 808 parks represents a large scale intervention in Lahore’s network of public green spaces. Parks serve as important recreational facilities for residents and also contribute to urban landscaping, environmental improvement and community activity. The PHA is expected to focus on renovation, plantation, landscaping and improved maintenance as part of the programme, while community participation is intended to create a stronger sense of ownership among citizens. The managing director also said special arrangements would be made for Independence Day celebrations, with Lahore to be decorated in green and white to mark August 14. The authority said the combination of park restoration, improved plantation, tree monitoring and major green infrastructure projects is intended to make Lahore greener, more attractive and better equipped with quality public spaces for residents.