Punjab Province

The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (CBD Punjab) has announced plans to expand its urban development activities to Faisalabad, signalling a potential new phase of commercial infrastructure development and investment opportunities in the province's major industrial city.

In a recent promotional update, the authority revealed that it was preparing to introduce its urban development model in Faisalabad, describing the proposed expansion as a new chapter in the city's development. CBD Punjab also released a Launching Soon announcement, indicating that further information regarding the initiative is expected to be made public. The proposed development would extend the authority's activities beyond Lahore, where it is already undertaking major urban development projects aimed at promoting organized commercial growth, modern infrastructure and investment-oriented business environments.

The Faisalabad announcement forms part of CBD Punjab's broader strategy to establish planned business districts in major urban centres across the province. Earlier, CBD Punjab Chief Executive Officer Imran Amin stated that the authority was undertaking feasibility studies and strategic planning for potential developments in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan and Bahawalpur. The expansion programme aims to identify suitable locations for modern commercial districts, encourage private-sector participation and support economic activity through planned urban infrastructure. Such developments could provide opportunities for commercial real estate investment, office spaces, business facilities and supporting services, subject to the scope and approvals of individual projects. In Faisalabad, a major centre of Pakistan's textile manufacturing and industrial activity, the proposed initiative could complement existing economic activities by introducing additional planned commercial infrastructure and potentially supporting business expansion.

CBD Punjab has already been implementing urban development initiatives in Lahore, including CBD Quaid District and NSIT City, which are part of its wider programme to develop modern commercial and technology-oriented urban spaces. These projects represent the authority's approach to integrating business activities with planned infrastructure and investment opportunities. The proposed Faisalabad expansion suggests an intention to apply aspects of this development model to other cities, although the scale, design and specific components of the new initiative have not yet been announced. The authority's previous statements regarding feasibility assessments indicate that site selection, infrastructure requirements, land-use planning, financial viability and potential investment arrangements are among the considerations relevant to expanding business district developments across Punjab. However, no project-specific findings or approved development framework for Faisalabad have been disclosed in the latest announcement.

Despite the promotional launch, CBD Punjab has not confirmed the exact location, total land area, estimated investment, approved master plan, development components or construction schedule for the proposed Faisalabad project.The authority has also not announced a formal construction commencement date or confirmed that any new business district in the city is operational. Consequently, the initiative remains at the announcement and preliminary planning stage, with its eventual implementation subject to further disclosures, feasibility assessments, regulatory approvals and financing arrangements. For Faisalabad's real estate and construction sectors, the announcement signals a potential future addition to the city's commercial development landscape, but its actual impact on property investment, business infrastructure and urban growth will depend on the details of the project when formally unveiled by CBD Punjab.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended an e-tender for a road construction project in Rajanpur district financed through funds collected under the Sugarcane Development Cess, raising questions about the legality of the committee responsible for allocating and utilizing the development levy.

Justice Jawad Hassan issued the interim order while admitting a petition filed by Indus Sugar Mills Limited for regular hearing. The sugar mill challenged the constitution and composition of the committee overseeing the cess funds, as well as the allocation and proposed expenditure of those funds on road construction and improvement projects. Following preliminary arguments, the court suspended the e-tender notice issued on October 9, 2026, by the Superintending Engineer, Highway Circle, Dera Ghazi Khan, and restrained further proceedings by the committee until the next hearing scheduled for December 9. The order temporarily halts the tendering process while the court examines whether the relevant authorities complied with statutory requirements in approving the development initiative.

Representing Indus Sugar Mills Limited, counsel Ahmad Raza argued that Rule 9(a-1), clause (ix), of the Punjab Sugarcane (Development) Cess Rules, 1964, establishes mandatory requirements for the committee's composition to ensure stakeholder representation, accountability and transparent utilization of funds collected through the statutory levy. He submitted that Muhammad Awais Drashik, the Member of the Provincial Assembly representing constituency PP-296, where the sugar mill is located, had not been included in the committee despite the prescribed legal requirement.

According to the petitioner, repeated representations were submitted to the concerned authorities and the committee seeking correction of the alleged irregularity, but no effective action was taken. The counsel maintained that the petition was not intended merely to secure the inclusion of a particular individual; rather, it raised a broader legal question concerning the validity of a statutory committee empowered to determine how public development funds should be spent. He also referred to Articles 4 and 10-A of the Constitution, previous Lahore High Court observations regarding the limits of statutory powers and a Supreme Court judgment concerning petitions involving matters of public importance.

During the proceedings, Additional Advocate General Bashir Ahmed Buzdar challenged the maintainability of the petition and informed the court that only the Rajanpur deputy commissioner had submitted a written response, while three other respondents had yet to file their reports or comments. The law officer requested additional time to obtain the remaining submissions. Justice Jawad Hassan observed that the dispute involved more than an ordinary administrative disagreement because it concerned compliance with legally prescribed procedures governing the constitution and functioning of a public committee. The court emphasized that when legislation specifies a particular procedure, the relevant authorities cannot replace it with an alternative administrative arrangement or disregard mandatory legal requirements. After examining the preliminary submissions, the judge found that the petitioner had established a prima facie case and that the balance of convenience supported granting interim relief. The court also observed that allowing the tendering process to proceed could create third-party contractual interests, potentially complicating the dispute and undermining the effectiveness of its eventual judgment.

Consequently, the Lahore High Court suspended the October 9 e-tender notice and further proceedings of the disputed committee pending the next hearing. The court directed the government law officer to ensure that all respondents submit their written statements before December 9 and summoned the Rajanpur deputy commissioner to appear in person alongside senior officials from the other concerned departments. The judge clarified that the interim suspension should not be interpreted as a final determination of the legality of the committee, the proposed allocation of Sugarcane Development Cess funds or the road construction project itself. The case highlights the importance of statutory compliance and transparent decision-making in the financing of public infrastructure, particularly road development schemes supported by funds collected from specific economic sectors.

The district administration of Khanewal has issued notices to the owners of 70 vacant plots over poor sanitation conditions and cleared accumulated waste from 679 locations as part of an intensified cleanliness campaign under the Suthra Punjab Programme. The initiative, being implemented on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, focuses on improving sanitation in residential neighbourhoods, vacant properties, public spaces and major roads across the district. According to the district administration, road washing and waste removal operations have been accelerated to improve the urban environment and provide residents with cleaner and healthier surroundings.

Deputy Commissioner Khanewal Hina Arshad visited Union Council No. 2 and several residential areas, including Azeem Town, Lakri Mandi, Hakeem Park and localities surrounding City Park, to inspect cleanliness arrangements along streets, roads and public spaces. During the inspections, she sought feedback from residents regarding sanitation services and reviewed the performance of field teams. She directed the authorities concerned to intensify road washing operations using water bowsers and mechanical sweepers, particularly along major thoroughfares, to maintain improved cleanliness standards across urban neighbourhoods.

As part of the district-wide operation, the Suthra Punjab Agency issued notices to 70 vacant plot owners for failing to maintain adequate cleanliness on their properties. Officials also reported the removal of accumulated garbage from 679 locations across the district. The Deputy Commissioner subsequently visited Union Council No. 84 in Chak No. 12-AH, where she assessed the performance of sanitation teams and directed officials to give particular attention to cleanliness in residential areas, streets and public roads. The measures are aimed at addressing waste accumulation on vacant land and improving sanitation conditions in both urban and rural communities.

Later, Hina Arshad visited Government Girls High School in Chak No. 12-AH, where she reviewed student attendance, educational activities and sanitation arrangements. She instructed the school administration and relevant staff to maintain proper cleanliness standards and ensure a healthy learning environment for students. The district administration emphasised the continued implementation of sanitation measures to improve public facilities and maintain cleanliness across Khanewal.