Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court has issued an important ruling on the rights of co-owners in jointly owned property, holding that no co-owner can unilaterally alter the nature of joint property or take any action that adversely affects the rights of other co-owners or causes damage to the jointly owned asset.

The court clarified that merely being a co-owner does not give an individual exclusive ownership rights over any specific portion of jointly owned property. If a co-owner seeks to establish an exclusive right over a particular portion, the person must follow the legal procedure for partition of the property.

The ruling was issued by a single bench of the Lahore High Court on a petition filed by Muhammad Ishtiaq and others. The six-page written judgment held that a suit seeking a permanent injunction against an attempt to create a passage, alter the structure or nature of jointly owned property, or cause damage to it is maintainable. However, the court noted that a mere allegation is insufficient and must be supported by evidence or a credible basis showing the alleged act or threat of damage.

According to the judgment, the rights of each co-owner extend to the jointly owned property as a whole. Therefore, no co-owner can independently declare a specific portion as exclusively owned and thereby restrict the rights of other co-owners. Any determination of exclusive rights over a particular portion requires lawful partition of the property.

The Lahore High Court further observed that a statement made by a party in an earlier case does not automatically become admissible evidence in subsequent proceedings. Before relying on a statement or record from previous litigation, the relevant facts and documents must be established in accordance with law.

The court was informed that the record of an earlier case had been produced through a statement made by the petitioner's counsel, which the subordinate courts had relied upon while granting an injunction. The High Court held that an injunction against a co-owner must be based on legally established facts and supporting evidence rather than an unsubstantiated allegation.

The court also observed that where a decision is based on material or a statement that has not been properly proved in accordance with law, the decision may be corrected in the exercise of revisional jurisdiction.

The Lahore High Court set aside the judgments and decrees passed by the subordinate courts and remanded the case to the trial court for fresh adjudication. It directed that the concerned parties be given an opportunity to produce the complete record of the disputed passage and the previous litigation, along with all relevant evidence.

The judgment reinforces the legal principle that co-ownership of joint property does not allow one co-owner to override the rights of others. Where an individual claims exclusive rights over a specific portion of jointly owned property, such rights must be determined through lawful partition and supported by admissible evidence.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq has reviewed ongoing development works in several key areas of Lahore under the Sustainable Development Model and directed officials to accelerate the projects while ensuring the highest standards of construction and execution.
The LDA DG visited Gulberg, MM Alam Road, Ali Zaib Road, Link Jail Road and Tollinton Market. Project Director Haroon Saifi and other relevant officials briefed him on the progress of ongoing development activities and various components of the projects.
Officials informed the DG that development work under the Sustainable Development Model is underway in Gulberg, MM Alam Road, Ali Zaib Road and Link Jail Road. The project includes the construction of pedestrian footpaths and walkways, along with the installation of tough tiles at various locations to improve accessibility and the overall urban environment.
The briefing further revealed that uniform green belts are being developed to enhance the appearance of the roads and surrounding areas. Internet and other overhead wires are also being gradually shifted underground to improve the visual environment of major roads and commercial areas while supporting better urban management.
Tahir Farooq directed the concerned officials to further accelerate the pace of development work and ensure that there is no compromise on construction and installation quality. He also emphasized timely completion of the projects and improved civic facilities for residents and visitors.
The LDA DG said the Sustainable Development Model is being gradually extended to other LDA schemes. The initiative aims to improve basic urban facilities, pedestrian infrastructure, green spaces and other components of the city’s infrastructure in line with modern urban development requirements.
Later, Tahir Farooq visited Tollinton Market and reviewed ongoing activities there. The Project Director and relevant officials accompanied him during the visit.
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Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
Rawalpindi district is set to receive a major infrastructure development programme worth more than Rs 6.5229 billion, with 21 development schemes identified across the district and 18 schemes receiving official approval. The programme focuses largely on road rehabilitation, reconstruction, improvement and widening works in Rawalpindi city and surrounding areas.

The projects are being taken up under the Punjab Development Programme and cover Rawalpindi as well as Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. The approved schemes are aimed at improving road connectivity and upgrading infrastructure serving residential, commercial and other urban and rural areas across the district.

The approved programme includes nine schemes under the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), with a combined estimated cost of around Rs 1.6 billion. Another nine schemes fall under the District Council, with a combined cost of approximately Rs 4.8 billion.

The road works will be executed by the Punjab Highway Department, while funding for the schemes will be provided by the RMC and District Council. The arrangement is expected to support the rehabilitation of key urban roads as well as roads connecting different parts of the district.

Major routes identified for rehabilitation and improvement within Rawalpindi city include Khayaban e Sir Syed, Bokra Road, Fifth Road, Rawal Road, the road section between Chandni Chowk and Commercial Market, Railway Workshop Road and Gordon College Road.

Additional road development schemes have been identified in Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. These projects are intended to improve local connectivity and provide better road access for communities and businesses in areas outside the main city.

The infrastructure programme also includes a review of water supply and sewerage schemes. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi provided updates on ongoing projects and their implementation status during the district level review.

From an urban development perspective, rehabilitation of major roads could improve connectivity between residential and commercial areas and help address deteriorated road infrastructure. The practical impact, however, will depend on timely execution, construction quality, traffic management and subsequent maintenance.

The planned investment also has relevance for the wider property market because road access and availability of basic infrastructure are among the factors that influence the development potential of different locations. However, property conditions can vary significantly from one road, locality or project to another, and any assessment should be based on actual development and connectivity on the ground.

With a combined estimated cost of more than Rs 6.5229 billion, the district programme represents a significant infrastructure investment covering both urban Rawalpindi and surrounding tehsils. The 18 approved schemes are expected to form the core of the road rehabilitation and improvement programme across the district.