Punjab Province

Faisalabad | ReNews Pakistan
The Faisalabad district administration has planned to construct a monument dedicated to Bhagat Singh as part of a broader urban beautification initiative aimed at preserving the city’s historical heritage and improving public spaces.
Deputy Commissioner Nouman Siddique, while briefing the media on ongoing development projects, described Bhagat Singh as a common freedom fighter of the pre and post Partition era. He said the proposed monument would form part of efforts to highlight Faisalabad’s historical identity while enhancing the city’s public environment.
The administration is also planning to develop walking tracks along both sides of the Rakh Branch Canal to provide residents with better access to open spaces and encourage walking and other healthy outdoor activities.
According to the district administration, similar walking tracks are planned for Jaranwala, while Samundri already has a walking track facility.
The administration is working through union councils to identify suitable locations for eight new parks, particularly sites with available land and access to canals.
Meanwhile, the Parks and Horticulture Authority has identified several existing parks that are in poor condition and require priority maintenance. Authorities are also coordinating with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the Planning and Development Department to restore another local park.
The site is expected to be cleared after September 30, after which restoration and rehabilitation work will begin.
The district administration has also set timelines for several infrastructure and traffic management projects. Development work in Jhang Bazaar and Aminpur Bazaar is expected to be completed by the end of November.
In addition, five parking plazas are planned across the city, with the projects expected to be completed within seven to eight months. The administration says the parking facilities are intended to help address growing parking pressure and improve traffic flow in major commercial areas.
A proposed parking plaza at Chiniot Bazaar has remained pending since 2015. According to the deputy commissioner, the administration is currently working to resolve objections raised at the Lahore office and has also explored a public private partnership model to reduce the financial burden on the government.
The package of projects combines heritage preservation, recreational facilities, park rehabilitation, commercial-area improvements and parking infrastructure as the district administration moves to upgrade Faisalabad’s urban landscape.

Gujranwala | ReNews Pakistan
The Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) has uncovered 900 suspected bogus property registrations and mutations in Mouza Ladhiawala Warraich, Gujranwala, during an investigation into alleged irregularities in land-revenue records, with the suspected transactions reportedly causing a loss of more than Rs 114.86 million to the provincial exchequer in taxes, duties and other government revenue.
According to ACE Gujranwala Region Director Amjad Shehzad, the investigation was launched following complaints regarding irregularities in property records in the area. ACE teams took the relevant revenue record into custody and examined 4,987 mutations involving small and large land transactions conducted over roughly two years.
The inquiry identified around 900 transactions as suspected bogus registrations, according to the ACE official. The alleged irregularities relate to registration documents, stamp papers, property numbers and discrepancies between physical and digitally recorded ownership information.
Investigators reportedly found cases in which physical documents carried stamp papers showing values of more than Rs 3,000, while online verification indicated that the actual stamp papers had a value of only Rs 500. The ACE also identified discrepancies in property numbers and differences between the names of buyers and sellers appearing on physical documents and those recorded in the online system.
The ACE director said the suspected transactions resulted in an estimated Rs 114.865 million loss to the government through taxes, duties and other revenue associated with the property dealings.
The inquiry has also turned towards officials who served in the relevant revenue offices during the period under investigation. The ACE is examining the role of tehsildars and patwaris whose signatures appeared on disputed registration documents. The officials named by the ACE include Tehsildars Sarfraz Cheema, Altaf Hussain Tarar, Arshad Dhullo and Imtiaz Sahi, along with Patwaris Bilal Butt and Mustafa Mann.
Assistant commissioners who served in Gujranwala Sadar between July 1, 2024 and May 4, 2026 are also expected to be questioned as part of the investigation. Authorities are examining why the alleged irregularities and revenue shortfall were not detected earlier.
The investigation could have implications for around 1,800 buyers and sellers linked to the disputed transactions. According to the ACE, these individuals will be heard as the inquiry progresses.
The ACE has also alleged irregularities in the mechanism used for site verification. According to the investigation, a private team or mechanism allegedly conducted site visits, recorded videos and raised objections, following which additional fees were reportedly charged. These allegations remain subject to the ongoing inquiry.
The case highlights potential weaknesses in the verification of land transactions where physical revenue documents and digital records are expected to correspond. Investigators are now examining the reported discrepancies involving stamp papers, property numbers and buyer-seller identities to establish how the disputed registrations were processed.
The ACE has yet to conclude the investigation and determine final responsibility. Any criminal or departmental action will depend on the findings of the inquiry and the evidence established against the individuals concerned.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq visited Inner Circular Road and Bhatti Chowk to review the pilot urban regeneration project. Chief Engineer TEPA Iqrar Hussain and the project director briefed him on the progress of the project, traffic management measures and improvements in civic facilities.
The DG LDA was informed that the upgrade of Inner Circular Road includes improved pedestrian pathways, footpaths, seating areas and organized parking facilities. The measures are aimed at improving traffic and parking management while enhancing the overall urban environment of the historic area.
Officials said the construction of a U-turn at Bhatti Chowk leading towards Inner Circular Road has improved traffic flow, while the upgrade project is also providing a more organized parking arrangement along the road.
Tahir Farooq said the urban regeneration initiative has improved basic civic facilities along Inner Circular Road. He added that building facades from Bhatti Chowk towards Urdu Bazaar have also been upgraded, along with the installation of uniform signage. The measures are intended to improve the overall appearance of the area, pedestrian movement and public facilities.
The DG LDA directed the relevant authorities to further improve the finishing of all development works and ensure the removal of hanging wires along the road and buildings. He stressed that quality, cleanliness and public convenience should remain key priorities throughout the project.
He said the experience and outcomes of the Inner Circular Road pilot project would provide a basis for upgrading other sections of the road along similar lines. The initiative aims to improve modern civic facilities, traffic management and the overall urban environment in key commercial and historic areas of the walled city.
Officials from TEPA and LDA were also present during the visit.