Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

The Punjab government has initiated a review of alternative electricity supply arrangements for Lahore's Sundar Industrial Estate and the Orange Line Metro Train, aiming to identify more competitive and commercially viable power procurement options for the two major electricity consumers.

The matter was discussed during a meeting chaired by Punjab Energy Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar, where officials examined existing electricity supply arrangements, operational requirements and potential alternatives for procuring power at competitive rates.

A key focus of the meeting was the possibility of purchasing electricity through the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM), a framework designed to facilitate bilateral electricity transactions between eligible buyers and sellers, subject to applicable market rules and regulatory requirements.

The provincial government directed the relevant departments to prepare a comprehensive presentation covering the technical, financial and administrative requirements associated with implementing alternative electricity procurement arrangements.

Officials also considered the potential utilisation of available solar power generation resources as part of efforts to explore economically viable electricity supply options.

Sundar Industrial Estate, one of Punjab's significant industrial hubs, accommodates numerous factories, manufacturing facilities and warehouses. A reliable and competitively priced electricity supply is essential for businesses operating within the estate, where energy expenditure represents a substantial component of overall production and operating costs.

The proposed exploration of competitive electricity procurement could potentially reduce operating expenses for industrial units if suitable supply arrangements are secured at commercially viable rates.

However, any actual financial savings would depend on the final electricity purchase price, transmission and related charges, contractual conditions and other applicable costs.

The Orange Line Metro Train has also been included in the review, indicating the provincial government's interest in assessing alternative procurement models for major public transport infrastructure alongside industrial consumers.

Although both facilities require substantial electricity supplies, their operational characteristics and consumption patterns differ. Separate technical and commercial evaluations would therefore be necessary to determine the suitability of any proposed procurement arrangement.

Importantly, no final electricity supply agreement or revised tariff has been announced. The initiative remains at the evaluation stage, and the government has not disclosed the proposed supply capacity, electricity source, pricing structure or duration of any potential agreement.

The next stage will involve detailed technical and financial assessments before a decision on implementation can be made.

For businesses operating in Sundar Industrial Estate, the commercial implications will become clearer only if the proposal advances to an approved electricity supply agreement. Until then, existing electricity supply and billing arrangements will continue to determine operational energy costs.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

The Punjab government has approved more than 224,000 interest-free housing loan applications under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme, while the provincial cabinet has sanctioned an additional Rs60 billion to facilitate 40,000 more housing loans for eligible families across the province.

Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin shared the updated figures while reviewing the programme’s implementation and construction progress in various divisions.

The initiative is aimed at enabling eligible families to build homes on their own residential plots through interest-free financial assistance.

According to the available divisional figures, the programme has recorded significant beneficiary participation in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad, among other areas. The combined figure for eight divisions stands at 195,862.

In a separate development, the Punjab cabinet approved an allocation of Rs60 billion on October 20, 2026, to support another 40,000 interest-free housing loans.

The allocation represents an average provision of Rs1.5 million per loan, although actual disbursements will depend on the programme's financing arrangements and eligibility requirements.

The cabinet also decided against imposing stamp duty on loans under the housing scheme.

The figure of more than 224,000 approved loan applications represents cumulative approvals under the programme rather than loans newly sanctioned during October. The latest allocation of Rs60 billion is a separate financial commitment intended to expand the programme’s reach.

Importantly, loan approval, disbursement and completion of construction represent separate stages. Approval does not necessarily indicate that beneficiaries have received their full loan amounts or completed construction of their homes.

Construction activities financed through the programme are progressing across different parts of Punjab, while the additional funding is expected to extend interest free housing finance to more eligible households.