Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved financing of up to Rs 15 billion for the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), providing significant financial support for the authority’s large scale development programme along the Ravi River.

The provincial government has also restored more than Rs 2.75 billion in previously cancelled financing earmarked for flood protection works, allowing critical river management and protection projects to continue.

Under the approved arrangement, the Rs 15 billion financing will be provided by the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority through the provincial financial mechanism.

The funds are expected to be deposited into Provincial Account-I before being made available to RUDA through a supplementary grant during the 2026,27 financial year, subject to the agreed financing terms.

The arrangement constitutes a financing or loan facility rather than a direct budgetary allocation. Details regarding repayment terms, pricing, disbursement schedules and other financial conditions have not yet been publicly disclosed.

Separately, the government has restored more than Rs 2.751 billion in financing specifically linked to flood protection projects along the Ravi River.

The restoration of the funds is expected to ensure continuity of work on infrastructure considered essential for protecting development areas from flooding and managing the river system as the Ravi Riverfront programme progresses.

Flood protection infrastructure is particularly important for RUDA’s development plans because significant portions of the project area are associated with the Ravi River and its floodplain. River training structures, engineered embankments, drainage systems and other flood management measures are therefore central to the long-term development of the area.

RUDA’s procurement activity indicates that substantial river-related infrastructure works are already under way or being pursued, including river training works, barrages and embankment packages.

The authority is also procuring infrastructure associated with the Right Promenade and other major components of the Ravi Riverfront development programme.

However, details released regarding the latest Rs 15 billion financing do not provide project wise allocations, making it unclear how much funding will ultimately be directed towards individual development schemes or infrastructure packages.

The financing therefore cannot, at this stage, be directly attributed to individual RUDA projects such as Chahar Bagh without further official clarification.

Chahar Bagh Phase I is separately undergoing infrastructure development and procurement involving electrical works, smart services, the project’s entry area and bridge related works.

While the latest financing is expected to strengthen RUDA’s overall financial capacity, no announcement has been made linking the Rs 15 billion facility to a new payment plan, possession schedule or specific financial package for Chahar Bagh allottees.

Attention will now turn to the actual release and utilisation of the approved funds, particularly expenditure on river protection and associated infrastructure packages.

The pace of disbursement and physical execution of the projects will determine how quickly the latest financial approvals translate into construction activity across the Ravi Riverfront development area.

Rawalpindi : Owners of small residential properties in Rawalpindi are facing property tax demands running into hundreds of thousands of rupees, triggering disputes with tax authorities over what residents say is a longstanding exemption for houses measuring up to five marlas.
Residents owning houses measuring between two and four marlas have reported receiving property tax bills ranging from Rs150,000 to Rs300,000. Some homeowners say enforcement action has also been initiated against properties where the demanded tax remains unpaid.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of difficulties faced by the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department in meeting property tax collection targets in Rawalpindi Division.
According to the reported complaints, the division has experienced a substantial shortfall in property tax collections over the past two years, particularly involving larger commercial and residential properties, shopping malls, plazas and major housing societies.
Residents allege that tax authorities have responded to the revenue shortfall by widening enforcement to include smaller residential properties, including houses that homeowners maintain had previously remained outside the property tax net.
At the centre of the dispute is the treatment of privately owned residential properties measuring up to five marlas.
Residents say the Punjab government granted an exemption from property tax to such houses around 25 years ago. They argue that owners of two-, three- and four-marla properties should therefore not suddenly face demands reaching hundreds of thousands of rupees.
The issuance of the bills has raised questions among homeowners over whether the exemption remains applicable, whether the taxation framework has subsequently been amended and how the amounts appearing on individual bills have been calculated.
Some residents have reported receiving demands of Rs150,000 to Rs200,000, while others claim bills have reached as high as Rs300,000.
The unexpectedly large amounts have particularly alarmed households living in modest properties, with residents arguing that such tax liabilities place a disproportionate financial burden on lower- and middle-income families.
The dispute has intensified following reports of enforcement measures against homeowners who have not paid the disputed amounts.
Residents allege that some small houses have been sealed over non-payment and that tax recovery operations have led to confrontations between citizens and Excise Department personnel.
There have also been allegations that authorities have pursued recovery through household assets in certain cases. These claims have contributed to growing resentment among affected residents and heightened tensions during enforcement operations.
According to the report, property tax collection in Rawalpindi Division has remained substantially below target, with an estimated shortfall of around 50 per cent over the past two years.
Residents contend that authorities should concentrate recovery efforts on major commercial properties, large houses, shopping centres, plazas and housing societies where significant tax liabilities may remain outstanding rather than placing additional pressure on owners of small homes.
The controversy has prompted calls for the Punjab government and senior Excise Department officials to clarify the legal status of the exemption for smaller homes and explain the basis on which the latest property tax assessments have been issued.
Affected residents have also called for the disputed bills to be reviewed and for clear guidance on the tax status of houses measuring up to five marlas.
The Excise Department's detailed position on the residents' allegations and the specific legal basis for the reported tax demands was not included in the original report.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved an initial estimated cost of Rs1 billion to upgrade four major sports venues in Lahore to international standards ahead of the South Asian Games (SAF Games) scheduled to be held in Pakistan in April 2027.

Lahore will host competitions in 10 sports during the regional sporting event, and the provincial government has initiated preparations to improve the sports infrastructure required for the competitions.

The approval for the initial estimated cost is aimed at upgrading the selected venues and bringing their facilities in line with the requirements of international sporting events. The initiative is expected to focus on improving the existing sports infrastructure and making the venues more suitable for hosting competitions involving athletes from across South Asia.

The South Asian Games are a major multi sport event in the region, bringing together athletes from South Asian countries in a range of sporting disciplines. Pakistan is scheduled to host the Games in April 2027, with Lahore among the cities selected to host competitions.

Under the Lahore preparations, four major sports venues will be upgraded for the 10 sporting events allocated to the city. The Rs1 billion initial estimated cost has been approved by the Punjab government as part of preparations for the event.

The upgrade programme is also expected to provide an opportunity to improve the city's existing sports facilities beyond the requirements of the upcoming Games. Better equipped venues can support the hosting of other major national and international sporting events in the future.

Following approval of the initial estimated cost, the relevant authorities will proceed with the planning and implementation of the required upgrade works at the selected venues.

The development forms part of preparations for the South Asian Games and reflects the provincial government's focus on strengthening sports infrastructure in Lahore ahead of the regional event. The upgraded venues are intended to provide an international standard environment for athletes and officials participating in the competitions scheduled to take place in the city.