LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has ordered a province wide survey of unsafe and deteriorating buildings immediately after the monsoon season, as authorities move to identify structures that could pose risks to residents and strengthen urban safety measures across the province. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz issued the directive while chairing a meeting to review progress on Phase-I of the Punjab Development Programme (PDP). Deputy commissioners from across Punjab participated in the meeting through video link and briefed the chief minister on development activities in their respective districts. The proposed survey will focus on identifying buildings considered structurally unsafe or in a deteriorating condition following the monsoon season. The exercise is expected to provide authorities with a clearer assessment of potentially hazardous structures and help determine where remedial measures or further technical inspections may be required. During the meeting, the chief minister also directed officials to accelerate the completion of development schemes being implemented under Phase-I of the Punjab Development Programme. She sought an impact study of sewerage and drainage projects completed under the programme to evaluate whether the schemes have effectively improved urban drainage and reduced problems associated with rainwater accumulation and flooding. Maryam Nawaz further instructed authorities to prepare a comprehensive case study of Phase-I of the PDP and compile feedback from residents to assess the effectiveness of development interventions and their impact on local communities. The chief minister reviewed ongoing PDP schemes in Vehari, Burewala, Tandlianwala, Jaranwala, Jalalpur Jattan, Sambrial, Muridke, Khudian, Kabirwala, Chak Jhumra, Bhalwal, Attock, Kamalia, Toba Tek Singh, Gojra, Ali Pur Chattha, Chichawatni, Daska, Layyah, Sillanwali, Wazirabad, Bahawalnagar and Mailsi. Officials also presented progress reports on development projects underway in Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. The meeting was informed that underground water storage tanks have become fully operational in 29 cities across Punjab, while construction of similar facilities is continuing in another 21 cities. These facilities form part of the province's broader efforts to strengthen urban drainage infrastructure and improve management of rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall. The chief minister said recently installed sewerage systems had significantly improved drainage conditions in several cities, highlighting the role of upgraded infrastructure in reducing water accumulation during the monsoon. She also acknowledged the performance of deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, Water and Sanitation Agency officials and Suthra Punjab teams during the rainy season. Maryam Nawaz appreciated officers and field staff who worked around the clock to facilitate residents and manage monsoon-related challenges. The post-monsoon building survey, combined with assessments of drainage and sewerage projects, is expected to give the provincial government a broader picture of infrastructure vulnerabilities and the effectiveness of recently completed development schemes across Punjab.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to make LDA City a key focus of development activity during the current fiscal year, with plans to accelerate ongoing works and bring commercial and residential plots to the market in the near future. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, where officials reviewed matters related to town planning, auctions, engineering, financial planning and development priorities in LDA City. During the meeting, Tahir Farooq said that development activity during the current fiscal year would place particular emphasis on LDA City. He directed the relevant officials to further accelerate the pace of ongoing development works in the scheme. The meeting was informed that commercial and residential plots in LDA City would soon be offered to the market and that the concerned departments were taking necessary measures in this regard. The Director Auction briefed the meeting on the upcoming balloting process and said that commercial plots in LDA Avenue One and LDA City Business Bay had been included in the next ballot. Five-marla residential plots in Johar Town have also been included. Citizens can submit applications to participate in the balloting until September 2, 2026. The meeting also reviewed the LDA’s auction calendar for the current fiscal year and plans for upcoming auctions. The LDA director general also directed officials to develop an effective governance model for improving the provision of basic civic services in LDA Avenue One, Jubilee Town and LDA Enclave. The proposed governance framework is aimed at strengthening service delivery and improving administrative arrangements in LDA housing schemes. The Town Planning Section briefed the meeting on revenue targets and progress made under the ongoing recovery campaign. Farooq directed the Town Planning Wing to intensify its drive against illegal construction and unauthorised commercialisation to ensure more effective enforcement of building and land-use regulations across the city. He also instructed officials to ensure strict compliance with relevant standard operating procedures during construction activities in the monsoon season so that development works can continue safely during rainfall and inconvenience to the public can be minimised. The LDA chief further directed the authorities to initiate development works in other LDA schemes during the current fiscal year under a sustainable development model, with greater focus on improving basic infrastructure and civic amenities. Director Finance Kashif Imran briefed the meeting on planning for the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, while officials from the engineering, town planning and auction wings presented updates on their targets, ongoing projects and future initiatives. The meeting was attended by the Additional Director General Headquarters, Chief Town Planner-I, Director Auction, Director Finance, Director Engineering and other senior LDA officials.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has approved major amendments to the regulatory framework governing private housing schemes across the province, introducing measures aimed at strengthening the approval, monitoring and regulatory process while tightening enforcement against violations. The revised framework also seeks to encourage the development of affordable housing for lower-income groups. The reforms approved by the provincial cabinet cover changes to the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules 2021 as well as the affordable housing framework administered by the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA). The broader objective is to make the approval process for private housing projects simpler, more transparent and easier to monitor. One of the most significant features of the revised framework is the introduction of a digital approval system for new housing schemes. Under the system, applications and approvals required from relevant government departments will be processed through a more coordinated and transparent mechanism. The reforms also provide for the standardisation of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) required from various departments and agencies, including environmental authorities, the Irrigation Department, WASA, solid waste management bodies and agencies responsible for soil testing. The move is intended to reduce procedural differences between departments and minimise unnecessary delays in project approvals. The revised rules also include a new category for affordable housing schemes targeting lower-income groups. The measure is designed to encourage private-sector developers to undertake residential projects offering comparatively lower-cost plots or housing units. The government has also decided to strengthen implementation of a Housing Society Management System, which is expected to improve monitoring of approved schemes, their development progress and compliance with statutory obligations. The reform package also addresses the procedure for the release of mortgaged plots. In private housing schemes, certain plots are often mortgaged with the relevant development authority as a guarantee for the completion of development works and compliance with legal requirements. The revised framework seeks to provide a clearer mechanism for the release of such plots once the required conditions are fulfilled. Advertising and marketing of private housing schemes will also come under closer regulatory scrutiny. The amended framework seeks to strengthen oversight of advertisements and the sale of plots or housing units through media platforms in order to curb the promotion of unapproved projects and prevent developers from raising funds from the public without the necessary approvals. Under the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules 2021, developers are already prohibited from advertising plots or housing units without approval from the relevant authority, while development agencies are empowered to take action against schemes that violate these restrictions. The reforms also introduce a formal mechanism for the registration of property dealers. The objective is to bring individuals and businesses involved in the marketing and sale of plots and properties within a defined regulatory framework and reduce the scope for unauthorised marketing. Similarly, the rules provide a procedure for the sale or transfer of designated public sites within housing schemes, with the aim of ensuring that land reserved for public facilities remains subject to effective regulatory oversight. Greater emphasis has also been placed on post-approval monitoring of private housing schemes. The objective is to ensure that developers do not deviate from approved layout plans, infrastructure commitments, public facilities or other legal obligations after securing approval. The government has also moved to strengthen the legal mechanism for strict action against illegal development and other violations. Developers and other responsible parties found breaching the rules may face stronger enforcement measures, including penalties and legal proceedings. The reform framework also includes a formal procedure for the regularisation of certain existing or illegally developed housing schemes, allowing viable cases to be brought within the legal system after meeting prescribed requirements, while enforcement action may continue against schemes that fail to comply with regulatory conditions. These changes carry particular significance in the context of the growing problem of illegal housing schemes across Punjab. Development authorities in several cities have long been taking action against projects that begin selling plots, advertising or undertaking development work without obtaining approval from the relevant authority. PHATA’s affordable private housing framework also contains a number of measures relating to approvals and technical scrutiny. Under the existing system, project cases are examined by the relevant committee before being placed before the governing body, with mandatory documentation and technical requirements reviewed as part of the approval process. Issues such as the availability of clean water sources and wastewater management plans are also considered during scrutiny. The existing affordable housing framework also provides for the allocation of specific residential areas and housing units for lower income groups, with separate arrangements intended to facilitate access to affordable residential options for eligible households. The Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department will oversee implementation of the reforms, while the relevant development authorities in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and other jurisdictions will be responsible for enforcing the amended rules within their respective areas. The government’s broader objective is to establish a regulatory system under which every stage of a private housing scheme, from initial approval to completion of development works, remains subject to effective oversight, while reducing the space available for illegal schemes and improving protection for property buyers and investors. The practical impact of the amendments will now depend on implementation. If digital approvals, standardised NOCs, property dealer registration, tighter advertising controls and stronger post-approval enforcement are effectively applied, the reforms could mark a significant regulatory shift in Punjab’s private housing market.