Rawalpindi Division

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab Agriculture Department has launched the second phase of its mini-dam project in the rain-fed Potohar region, aiming to improve irrigation and strengthen the productive use of agricultural land through the construction of 150 mini dams across Rawalpindi division by June 30, 2027. Part of a three-year Agriculture Transformation Plan, the initiative offers farmers a 70 per cent subsidy, with financial assistance of Rs1.75 million for each mini dam. The first phase delivered 111 mini dams during the previous fiscal year. Launched under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s initiative for Potohar, the project focuses on storing rainwater for agricultural use. More dependable access to water is expected to help landowners sustain crops and orchards beyond the rainy season and make better use of cultivable land affected by seasonal water shortages. From a land-use perspective, the project could expand the range of agricultural activities that participating farms can support. Stored water may enable farmers to develop orchards, grow higher-value crops and introduce fish farming alongside existing cultivation, subject to local conditions and water availability. The mini dams are also expected to help prevent soil erosion and reduce damage caused by floodwater. These measures could protect fertile topsoil and preserve the productive capacity of agricultural holdings, while improved groundwater recharge may offer additional benefits for surrounding farmland. For agricultural property owners and prospective buyers, access to reliable irrigation is an important consideration when assessing a holding’s productive potential. However, the reported project details provide no evidence of an increase in land prices or any change in land-use permissions. The initiative is intended to support agriculture and related rural livelihoods, including horticulture, fish farming and dairy farming. Its practical benefits for individual holdings will depend on rainfall, storage capacity, site conditions and the management of available water. Local growers have welcomed the project. Farmers Afzal Ali and Faizan said the mini dams would improve water supplies for crops and orchards throughout the year. They added that the reservoirs could be used to raise fish for household consumption and could attract aquatic birds. The second phase will extend rainwater storage infrastructure across Rawalpindi division, with the potential to improve farm productivity and protect agricultural land in a region heavily dependent on rainfall.

RAWALPINDI | Re News Pakistan The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has approved a revised cost of Rs51.326 billion for the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) project, covering a 38.3-kilometre corridor between Banth on Grand Trunk (GT) Road and Thalian near the M-2 Motorway. The revised approval increases the project's cost by approximately Rs4.326 billion from the Rs47 billion estimate approved in January 2026, updating its financial framework following successive cost revisions. The decision was taken during the ninth meeting of the PDWP for the fiscal year 2026-27, chaired by Punjab Planning and Development Board Chairman Dr Naeem Rauf. The Rawalpindi Ring Road is a major infrastructure project intended to improve regional connectivity, facilitate traffic movement and provide a direct link between GT Road and the motorway network through the Thalian interchange. The project's initial estimated cost was approximately Rs33 billion. A revised Project Concept-I (PC-I) exceeding Rs52 billion was reportedly submitted before the January 2026 approval, when the cost was set at Rs47 billion. The latest approval of Rs51.326 billion reflects a further revision to the project's financial requirements. During the same meeting, the PDWP also approved development schemes worth a combined Rs63.05 billion across various sectors. These included Rs3.724 billion for the dualisation of Muzaffargarh Road from Jauharabad to Chowk Grote in Khushab district and Rs8 billion for the revised Chief Minister's “Plant for Pakistan” initiative. The forum also endorsed position papers for several other development schemes involving fisheries, youth engagement, Safe City initiatives, artificial intelligence hubs, legal aid, industrial emissions management, greening of industries and sustainability research.    

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has made registration mandatory for deed writers across the province, setting October 12, 2026, as the deadline for compliance as part of efforts to improve transparency, accountability and regulation in property documentation and land registration services. Under the new requirement, unregistered deed writers will no longer be permitted to prepare property registration documents and other legal deeds after the specified deadline. According to an announcement issued by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), only registered deed writers will be authorised to prepare legal deeds across Punjab from October 12. The authority has directed individuals associated with the profession to complete their registration before the deadline to avoid disruptions to their professional activities. The new arrangements also require newly registering deed writers to have modern biometric machines, a measure intended to integrate document preparation services with the province's expanding digital land records management system. The initiative is aimed at strengthening oversight of professionals involved in preparing property-related documents, improving the reliability of documentation and promoting greater transparency in property transactions. Deed writers play an important role in preparing sale deeds, property transfer documents, agreements and other legal instruments used in property transactions. The introduction of mandatory registration is expected to help authorities maintain a formal record of individuals providing these services and improve accountability within the property documentation sector. The move may also help discourage unauthorised individuals from preparing legal documents and facilitate better monitoring of documentation practices. Punjab has already introduced several digital initiatives in the property and land administration sector, including electronic stamp papers, online property registration services and computerised land records. These reforms are intended to simplify documentation procedures, improve access to land-related services and reduce the risks associated with fraudulent or unverifiable property documents. The Punjab Land Records Authority operates an electronic property registration system through which various stages of the documentation and registration process can be completed digitally. The mandatory registration of deed writers represents another step towards integrating property documentation services into the province's broader digital governance framework. The new requirement will affect deed writers operating in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and other districts across Punjab. Individuals currently providing deed-writing services will need to ensure that their registration is completed before October 12 to continue preparing documents under the revised arrangements. For property buyers, sellers and other individuals involved in real estate transactions, the development is significant because the registration status of deed writers will become an important consideration when seeking professional documentation services. The authority has urged all concerned professionals to complete the registration process within the specified timeframe to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. From October 12, 2026, only registered deed writers will be authorised to prepare deeds under the new provincial arrangements, marking a further step towards regulating property documentation practices and strengthening transparency in Punjab's land administration system.