Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has suspended the Green Property Certificate system for a period of six months following concerns over the accuracy of land ownership records, property transactions and difficulties reported during the initial implementation of the new system.
The suspension was announced during a session of the Punjab Assembly, where Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman informed lawmakers that the government had decided to temporarily halt the system after several issues emerged during its implementation.
The Green Property Certificate was introduced as part of efforts to modernise property documentation and improve the verification of land ownership through digital records. However, concerns raised in the provincial legislature have prompted the government to review the system and address reported shortcomings before its implementation resumes.
During the assembly proceedings, Opposition Leader Rana Aftab Ahmed criticised the existing land record system and alleged that corruption continued to affect the functioning of the Land Department. He also questioned whether the Green Property Certificate had actually improved the process of buying and selling property or reduced difficulties faced by citizens.
Rana Aftab further highlighted the absence of an effective one-window mechanism for property transactions. He said citizens continued to face complications when dealing with ownership documents, property transfers and related land records, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current procedures.
Another lawmaker, Raja Shaukat Bhatti, raised concerns over discrepancies in ownership records. He pointed to cases in which multiple individuals were reportedly shown as owners of the same two-acre piece of land. Such instances, he said, raised serious questions about the accuracy, verification and reliability of digital land records.
MPA Amjad Ali Javed also informed the assembly that he had previously warned the Senior Member Board of Revenue about potential problems associated with the new certificate system.
The issue also prompted a legal and procedural question from the Punjab Assembly Speaker, who questioned whether the provincial government could suspend a system that had already received approval from the assembly. He suggested that where an assembly-approved measure is being suspended, the legislature should also have a role in the decision-making process.
The six-month suspension is expected to provide the provincial government with an opportunity to examine the reported weaknesses in land ownership records, property verification, transaction procedures and the implementation of the Green Property Certificate system.
The development could temporarily affect property buyers, sellers, investors and other stakeholders who rely on land record documentation for property transfers across Punjab. Citizens involved in property transactions are therefore advised to confirm the latest documentation requirements and procedures with the relevant land record authorities before completing a sale, purchase or transfer.
The government’s review will be closely watched by the property sector, particularly as accurate ownership records and transparent transfer procedures remain critical to preventing disputes, fraudulent transactions and complications in Punjab’s real estate market.

Lahore : Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan
A key meeting on digital reforms was held at the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) under the chairmanship of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq. The meeting conducted a detailed review of the system for digital monitoring, field inspections, and action against illegal commercial activities to make the affairs of the Town Planning Wing more effective, transparent, and modern.
While reviewing progress on the ongoing digital reforms and inspection regime in the Town Planning Wing, the DG LDA directed that the complete data of the wing be updated on the monitoring dashboard so that field activities, inspections, and enforcement actions could be effectively monitored.
Tahir Farooq directed that the SOPs being developed for town planning-related inspections and field activities be implemented at the earliest. He said that modern digital tools should be utilized to ensure transparency and accountability in the performance of field teams.
The meeting also directed the development of a digital mechanism to prevent illegal commercial activities and ensure effective recovery of fines. The DG LDA ordered the Chief IT Officer to immediately update the monitoring dashboard for the digital mapping of illegal commercial properties so that such properties could be identified and action against them made more effective.
The DG LDA made it clear that all members of teams going into the field for inspections and sealing operations must prominently display QR code based identification cards. The purpose of this measure is to clearly identify field teams and ensure transparent and verifiable action for citizens.
He also directed that effective action be ensured against private individuals using the LDA’s name. He said that every possible measure should be taken to facilitate citizens, improve service delivery, and bring transparency to the institution’s system.
Tahir Farooq directed the officers of the Town Planning and Housing departments to ensure the digital monitoring of field teams and regularly monitor field activities through the central system.
The meeting was attended by the Additional DG Housing, Chief IT Officer, Chief Town Planner-I, Chief Town Planner-II, Chief Metropolitan Planner, Director Finance, Director Revenue, and other relevant officers. Various measures were considered to connect the LDA’s town planning system with digital technology and provide citizens with more effective, transparent, and faster services.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The installation of fire hydrants at government hospitals and health centers across Punjab has been accelerated to strengthen fire safety infrastructure. Under the initiative, a total of 350 fire hydrants are being installed at 103 government health centers across the province based on operational requirements.
According to a spokesperson for the Housing Department, installation of 63 fire hydrants has been completed so far, while work on another 108 is currently underway. The improvement of fire hydrant infrastructure is being carried out simultaneously at government health facilities across all 41 districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Officials said the initiative aims to ensure the immediate availability of water for firefighting teams in the event of a fire at hospitals and health centers, while also strengthening emergency response capabilities.
The development comes as the Punjab government has recently ordered a comprehensive review of fire safety arrangements at government hospitals. In the initial phase, 57 major government hospitals were identified, where authorities were directed not only to install new fire hydrants but also to assess the availability, functionality and operational condition of existing hydrants.
The government is also focusing on improving firefighting facilities around Rural Health Centers (RHCs), Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals (THQs), District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs) and other major public healthcare facilities. Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs) have been assigned a role in identifying key locations and supporting the installation of fire hydrants, while relevant departments, including Rescue 1122, are also assisting in the process.
Earlier, the Chief Minister of Punjab had directed authorities to review fire safety arrangements, emergency exits and fire hydrants at government hospitals and expedite all necessary measures. Officials said ensuring the functionality of fire alarms, hydrants and other safety equipment is also part of the ongoing assessment.
Housing Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal directed that the installation of fire hydrants be completed at the earliest, stressing that the safety of patients, attendants and medical staff remains a top priority. He said the availability of functional fire hydrants would play a vital role in enabling rescue and firefighting teams to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies.
Punjab's building bye laws also emphasize fire safety provisions for hospitals and certain other buildings, including fire detectors, alarms, sprinklers and fire hydrants, as key components of emergency safety infrastructure.