Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Desk News
Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with startup Dewpoint Innovations, have developed a new paint-like coating that can cool buildings and collect water from the air without using electricity, a breakthrough that could be significant for hot and water stressed countries such as Pakistan.
The nano-engineered coating reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and releases heat into the sky through a process known as passive radiative cooling. This allows coated surfaces to remain cooler than the surrounding air, even under direct sunlight.
According to the researchers, the coating can keep surfaces up to 6°C cooler than the ambient temperature. This could help reduce indoor heat in buildings, lower the demand for air conditioning and ease pressure on electricity systems during extreme heat.
The technology works by reflecting most incoming sunlight instead of absorbing it. At the same time, it emits heat away from the surface and into the atmosphere. Unlike traditional cooling systems, the process does not require electricity, moving parts or a mechanical setup.
Researchers say the same cooling effect also creates favorable conditions for water vapor in the air to condense on the coated surface. The process is similar to dew forming on grass, car roofs or outdoor surfaces during cooler hours.
During testing, the coating was able to collect up to 390 milliliters of water per square meter per day under favorable conditions. The research team estimated that a 200-square-meter roof could collect up to 70 liters of water on good days, depending on humidity, temperature, weather conditions and surface size.
The coating was tested for six months on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub. The outdoor trials helped researchers assess how the material performed under real weather conditions. The study found that the coating could extend the dew collection period by several hours, allowing it to collect moisture for longer than ordinary surfaces.
Experts believe the technology may be useful in regions where heat and water stress are becoming serious challenges. Buildings absorb large amounts of heat during the day, increasing indoor temperatures and raising the need for air conditioning. In many countries, cooling already accounts for a major share of electricity use, and this demand is expected to rise further as temperatures increase.
A coating that can cool buildings without power could help reduce electricity consumption, particularly during heatwaves. It could also support energy grids by lowering peak cooling demand in residential, commercial and public buildings.
The water collection feature provides an additional benefit, especially for remote or water-stressed areas. However, researchers say the technology should not be viewed as a full replacement for regular water supply systems. Its performance depends heavily on humidity, temperature and the size of the coated surface. In very dry conditions, water collection may be limited.
The coating has been designed to work like paint, which could make it easier to apply on rooftops, walls and other building surfaces. This could improve its chances of being used at scale, as many cooling technologies fail to expand due to high installation costs or complex systems.
If developed commercially, the coating could be used on homes, schools, factories, warehouses and public buildings. It may be especially relevant for countries with hot climates, including Pakistan, where rising temperatures, power demand and water stress continue to create serious challenges for urban and rural communities.
Researchers are now looking toward commercial development of the technology, which could offer a low-energy solution for cooling buildings while providing limited additional water collection in suitable weather conditions.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has decided to further tighten the ongoing crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals, directing district administrations and police across the province to intensify intelligence gathering, step up search operations and make the profiling of undocumented foreigners more effective.
According to sources, Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi has issued an important letter to all commissioners and regional police officers. The letter was sent after a high level meeting with the federal government on May 25, during which the strategy regarding the repatriation, monitoring and arrest of foreigners residing illegally in the country was reviewed.
Officials said that 15 to 30 illegal Afghan nationals are being traced and detained daily in different districts of Punjab, particularly in northern Punjab. In view of this situation, the provincial government has decided to further strengthen monitoring, reporting and operational coordination at the district level to make the campaign more organised and effective.
The Home Department has directed all deputy commissioners to prepare and submit detailed reports on every illegal Afghan national being kept at holding centres.
District administrations have also been instructed to compile details about the background of each arrest, previous hideouts, movement routes and the individuals or networks allegedly involved in providing accommodation, logistical support or protection.
The letter stated that undocumented foreigners present in holding centres could provide highly important information to law enforcement agencies. Deputy commissioners and district police officers have therefore been directed to use the information obtained from them for meaningful intelligence based and search operations.
Under the revised reporting mechanism, districts will no longer be required to provide only the number of newly arrested illegal Afghan nationals. They will also have to explain how such individuals were identified, where they had been hiding, how their accommodation was arranged and how they managed to avoid arrest during previous operations.
Officials have been informed that the entire process will be closely monitored by the Home Department. Deputy commissioners and DPOs have been directed to take personal responsibility for the campaign so that no negligence or weak coordination occurs at the field level.
Copies of the letter have also been sent to all divisional commissioners and regional police officers for immediate implementation and operational coordination. Officials said the policy is part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security, regulate undocumented migration and improve the border control system.
Security officials said Punjab has become a key focus of the campaign because a large number of undocumented Afghan nationals leaving border areas and other provinces were attempting to take temporary shelter in urban and semi urban areas of central and northern Punjab to avoid identification.
Officials said many undocumented individuals frequently change their places of residence, use informal tenancy arrangements and evade routine verification and search operations with the help of local facilitators. For this reason, the new strategy gives basic importance not only to arrests but also to identifying facilitator networks, secret hideouts and patterns of movement.
Senior security analysts said the Punjab government’s new policy reflects a clear shift from conventional actions toward intelligence led operations. The objective of this strategy is not only to identify people living illegally in the country but also to reach those elements that provide them with shelter, mobility or other forms of assistance.
Officials said the campaign is aimed only at individuals residing in the country without legal documents. Operations will continue under federal policy guidelines in coordination with provincial governments, district administrations, police and law enforcement agencies.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has offered the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank partnership opportunities in major housing, transport, water, sanitation and urban development projects across the province.
The offer was made during a meeting in Lahore with AIIB Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy. AIIB Director General Xiaohong Yang was also part of the delegation. The meeting focused on potential institutional cooperation in development initiatives aimed at improving public services, urban infrastructure and climate-sensitive planning in Punjab.
During the meeting, the chief minister briefed the AIIB delegation on ongoing provincial development programmes and highlighted the government’s priority projects.
She said Punjab was moving ahead with a broad reform and development agenda focused on housing access, modern transport, clean water supply, sanitation, healthcare and urban governance.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif particularly mentioned the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing programme, describing it as one of the province’s flagship public welfare initiatives. She said the programme had delivered more than 100,000 homes within one year, providing housing support to families across Punjab.
The chief minister also briefed the delegation on electric bus and e-bike programmes being introduced to promote environmentally friendly transport. She said Punjab was working to modernise public transport through cleaner mobility options and better urban connectivity, while reducing pressure on existing transport systems.
Water and sanitation projects also came under discussion during the meeting. Maryam Nawaz said Punjab was already cooperating with AIIB in Lahore’s water and sanitation sector through an MoU aimed at improving infrastructure. She said planned projects included wastewater drainage systems, water treatment facilities and other urban service improvements.
According to the chief minister, Punjab’s development approach is based on data-driven planning, climate-sensitive governance and improved service delivery. She said the provincial government wants to expand partnerships with international development institutions for sustainable infrastructure and long-term public benefit.
The AIIB delegation and the Punjab government expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in infrastructure and development sectors. Both sides agreed that housing, clean transport, water, sanitation and urban development offered important opportunities for future collaboration across the province.