Punjab Province

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority has launched a major operation against illegal commercial buildings and properties with unpaid commercialisation fees across areas under its jurisdiction, demolishing two structures under construction and sealing 101 properties.
According to the LDA, Town Planning Wing teams carried out simultaneous operations in Gajjumata, Attari Saroba, Gulberg, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Samanabad, GT Road and Allama Iqbal Town on the instructions of Director General Tahir Farooq.
During the operation, the teams demolished an illegally constructed building near the Gajjumata Metro Bus Station. Unauthorised structures under construction near Central Park Housing Scheme Phase II were also demolished.
LDA teams sealed several properties near Attari Saroba for the unauthorised commercial use of residential premises. Another 28 properties were sealed in Gulberg and Faisal Town for carrying out commercial activities in violation of regulations.
A further 60 properties were sealed along Canal Road, Samanabad and GT Road over illegal commercial use and the nonpayment of outstanding commercialisation fees. During a separate recovery operation, the teams sealed 12 properties in Allama Iqbal Town.
The sealed premises include private schools, clinics, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, shops, showrooms, offices and other commercial establishments.
Officials said notices had been issued to the property owners before the operation. Action was taken after they failed to bring the properties into conformity with their approved use or clear outstanding dues within the prescribed period.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asad uz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali, with joint participation from the Town Planning Wing and enforcement staff.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and properties with unpaid commercialisation fees would continue across the city. He advised property owners to use their premises in accordance with approved regulations and pay all outstanding dues on time to avoid legal action.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved a major expansion of the restoration and development project for Kamran’s Baradari, one of Lahore’s historic Mughal-era landmarks, increasing the project area from five acres to 15 acres.
The expanded plan aims to conserve the historic structure while transforming its surroundings into a modern recreational destination for residents and tourists. Officials have been directed to ensure that all development work respects the monument’s original architecture and does not compromise its historical integrity.
Under the revised project, the area surrounding Kamran’s Baradari will feature garden-style landscaping, decorative lighting and dedicated parking facilities. These improvements are intended to enhance the visitor experience and make the site more accessible without altering its heritage character.
The project is being implemented with support from the Punjab Archaeology Department, the Water and Sanitation Agency and the Parks and Horticulture Authority. The participating departments are expected to coordinate conservation, infrastructure development, landscaping and utility-related work at the site.
Earlier proposals for the expanded development included several dining and recreational attractions, such as the Ravi Show Restaurant, atrium dining, ship dining, sky dining and wooden bakery outlets. Plans also featured golf courts, pedestrian walkways, buggy tracks, fountains, children’s play areas and designated selfie points.
It has not yet been confirmed whether all the previously proposed facilities will be included in the final approved design. Authorities are expected to review each component in light of conservation requirements and the need to protect the site’s historic setting.
Kamran’s Baradari stands near the River Ravi and is associated with Prince Kamran Mirza, a son of Mughal emperor Babur. The monument is considered an important part of Lahore’s architectural heritage, but its location and surrounding environmental conditions have created conservation challenges over the years.
The expansion from five to 15 acres is expected to provide more space for landscaping, visitor facilities and regulated recreational activities around the monument. If implemented with appropriate heritage safeguards, the project could improve public access to the site while supporting cultural tourism in Lahore.
The government has not yet announced the project’s revised cost, completion schedule or a firm date for opening the expanded facility to the public.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved a major Rs36 billion water supply project linked to Dadhocha Dam to meet Rawalpindi’s growing demand for clean drinking water.
The project includes the construction of a surface water treatment plant, transmission line and distribution network. Once completed, it is expected to add 35 million gallons of treated water per day to Rawalpindi’s existing water supply system.
According to the Punjab Housing Department, the project is scheduled for completion by December 2029. Its primary objective is to reduce Rawalpindi’s dependence on groundwater by providing the city with a secure, sustainable and long term source of drinking water.
Water from Dadhocha Dam will be treated through modern facilities before being supplied to the urban population through a new transmission and distribution system.
Housing Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal has appointed WASA Rawalpindi Deputy Managing Director Sohail Aslam as project director for the Dadhocha Dam Surface Water Treatment Plant and Water Supply System.
WASA Rawalpindi has been assigned responsibility for developing the project’s water supply infrastructure. Following the completion of Dadhocha Dam, the agency will construct the transmission line and distribution network required to deliver water across the city.
The new system will connect treated water from the dam to Rawalpindi’s existing water supply network.
Officials said the addition of 35 million gallons of water per day would help ease pressure on the existing supply system and improve water availability in different parts of the city.
Rawalpindi’s continued population growth has significantly increased demand for drinking water, prompting authorities to emphasise the need to add new surface water sources to the urban supply system.
The housing secretary directed the project director to ensure effective coordination among all relevant government departments and institutions and to continuously monitor construction and administrative progress.
Officials have also been instructed to strictly follow the approved timeline and ensure that work on different components of the project proceeds in a coordinated manner so that it can be completed by December 2029.
According to the Housing Department, the project was approved in view of Rawalpindi’s rising water demand and the need for a safe and sustainable source of clean drinking water for the city’s population.
The new system is expected not only to increase the volume of water available to residents but also to improve the reliability of drinking water supplies across the city.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has identified the provision of clean drinking water as one of the provincial government’s priorities. She has directed the relevant departments to accelerate water supply projects, particularly in areas facing shortages, and improve public access to safe drinking water.
The Dadhocha Dam linked project is considered crucial to Rawalpindi’s future water supply infrastructure because it is designed to add 35 million gallons of clean water per day to the city’s existing system.
If completed within the approved timeframe, the project could play a significant role in meeting Rawalpindi’s long term water requirements and improving the reliability of supplies for its residents.