LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has promulgated the Assets Management Authority of Punjab Ordinance 2026 to ensure the more efficient, profitable and investment-oriented use of public assets worth trillions of rupees across the province. Under the ordinance, an autonomous statutory body has been established to identify, document, manage, develop, lease and sell movable and immovable government assets. The authority will also be responsible for enhancing the economic value of these assets through public private partnerships and other investment models. The ordinance was issued by the Governor of Punjab while the provincial assembly was not in session and has come into immediate effect across the province. According to the government, the initiative is aimed at increasing non-tax revenue, attracting domestic and foreign investment, creating employment opportunities and expanding economic activity in Punjab. Under the new law, the authority’s head office will be located in Lahore, while regional offices may be established in other cities where required. The Chief Secretary Punjab will serve as chairman of the authority, while the Senior Member Board of Revenue will act as vice chairman. Senior officials from the planning, finance, law, housing, local government and other key departments will also be represented on the governing body. The authority will prepare a comprehensive digital inventory of all government assets, identify underutilised or inactive properties and develop plans for their commercial use or redevelopment. Before any asset is sold or leased, its value will be independently assessed by three valuers. No asset will be transferred below the approved valuation. Investors will be selected through a secure digital platform under a transparent and competitive bidding process. The ordinance empowers the authority to undertake joint ventures, real estate investment trusts, public private partnerships, leasing arrangements and other investment models. However, major projects, asset transfers, direct agreements and other significant decisions will require approval from a provincial cabinet committee, which will be required to decide such matters within 21 days. Under the law, the authority will be allowed to retain only two percent of the net income generated from projects for administrative expenses. The remaining 98 percent will be deposited into the Provincial Consolidated Fund. The authority’s financial records will be maintained in accordance with international accounting standards. Its accounts will be audited annually by the Auditor General of Pakistan as well as an independent chartered accountant. The government maintains that a large number of public assets in Punjab have remained unused, underutilised or encroached upon for extended periods. The newly established authority is expected to improve the planning, protection and transparent commercial use of these assets, generate additional provincial revenue and support sustainable economic growth.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial activities and non-payment of commercialisation fees, sealing a total of 77 properties in different parts of the city. The operations were carried out by the LDA Town Planning Wing on the instructions of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq in various housing schemes and areas falling under the authority’s control. According to the LDA, enforcement teams conducted operations in Faisal Town, Samanabad, Canal Road, Poonch Road, Mustafa Town and Azam Garden against properties being used for unauthorised commercial purposes or whose owners had failed to pay the required commercialisation fees. Officials said that 15 properties were sealed in Faisal Town over illegal commercial use. Another 49 properties were sealed in Samanabad, along Canal Road and Poonch Road for unauthorised commercial activity and non-payment of commercial fees. During a separate recovery operation, LDA teams sealed 13 additional properties in Mustafa Town and Azam Garden. The sealed properties included private schools, bakeries, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, pharmacies, grocery stores, real estate offices, clinics, automobile workshops, shops and various commercial offices. The action was taken over violations of applicable regulations and failure to clear outstanding dues. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asaduz Zaman, while the relevant town planning teams carried out enforcement actions at different locations. DG LDA Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings, regulatory violations and commercial fee defaulters would continue across the city. He directed the concerned officials to ensure strict enforcement of urban planning regulations in order to discourage unauthorised commercial activity and improve civic order in Lahore.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Rising residential rents across Lahore have sparked a fresh landlord versus tenant debate on social media, with users sharing concerns about rent increases, security deposits, advance payments and annual revisions. In various online community groups and property forums, tenants have complained that some landlords demand higher rent before the expiry of an existing tenancy agreement. Others have raised concerns about delays in the return of security deposits and deductions made for maintenance, repainting or minor damage when a property is vacated. Landlords, however, argue that increasing property taxes, construction costs, maintenance expenses and repair charges have made rent revisions unavoidable. Some property owners also claim that delayed payments and damage caused by tenants often result in substantial financial losses. According to an available market report, the average monthly rent for a house is estimated at approximately PKR 281,000 in DHA Lahore, PKR 224,000 in Johar Town and PKR 165,000 in Bahria Town. Actual rental prices may vary depending on the property’s size, location, condition, number of bedrooms and available facilities. Social media users say salaries have not increased at the same pace as housing costs, making it increasingly difficult for middle income households to continue living in well developed neighbourhoods. Many participants in the online discussion have called for clearer tenancy agreements, advance disclosure of annual rent increases and a transparent mechanism for returning security deposits. They also stressed that both landlords and tenants should document the condition of a property and agree on maintenance responsibilities before possession is handed over.