Punjab Province

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the launch of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) Blind Dolphin Resort at Taunsa Barrage in Kot Addu. The 120-kanal facility sits along the River Indus and is intended to give visitors a chance to experience the area’s landscape and, when dolphins are visible, observe the rare Indus blind dolphin in its natural habitat.

Maryam described the resort as an eco-friendly destination developed to tourism standards. She said it brings together hospitality services, terrace views and dining, alongside a commitment to wildlife conservation. The announcement did not give details about visitor opening dates, operating hours, booking arrangements or charges.

The site’s land history predates the launch announcement. In November 2020, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported that TDCP was in the process of acquiring 120 kanals near Taunsa Barrage for a proposed tourism project estimated at Rs 100 million. Plans outlined at the time included camping, huts, food and shopping facilities, and a blind-dolphin viewing point.

In May 2022, another APP report said an eco-tourism and culture project was under way at Taunsa Barrage on 120 kanals, with an estimated cost of Rs 118 million. Planned facilities included a gazebo, restaurant, boat-parking area, dolphin point and lake. These earlier reports trace the land and project planning behind the resort announced this month, but do not establish when the acquisition was completed or the final cost of the facility now launched. The site is in an area associated with the Indus dolphin. The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department lists the Indus blind dolphin as critically endangered and says it inhabits the Indus and its tributaries. The department also lists Taunsa Barrage as a wildlife sanctuary.

The resort’s success will depend on how visitor facilities are managed alongside protection of the river habitat. The chief minister has presented wildlife conservation as part of the project, while the department’s conservation information underscores the sensitivity of the species and its habitat.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has handed over an apartment in Rawalpindi to provide accommodation for minority students. Located on Seventh Road, the apartment will house 12 students, who will receive free accommodation and all essential facilities, according to the board.

ETPB Secretary Nasir Mushtaq handed over the keys to the students on the instructions of Chairman Qamar-uz-Zaman. Rawalpindi Administrator Yasir Asghar Monga was also present. Mushtaq said the initiative aims to ease the housing difficulties students face during their studies and give them a better environment in which to focus on their education.

The board said the welfare of minority communities, educational development and provision of basic facilities were among its priorities. The Ministry of Religious Affairs says the ETPB was established in 1960 to oversee evacuee properties linked to religious, charitable and educational trusts. The board had earlier approved Rs 5 million for the Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship Programme for Hindu and Sikh students. Under the programme, eligible students receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 10,000, according to the board.

The Punjab government has linked payment of the garbage tax, also known as the sanitation fee, to the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) required for property transactions. Owners with outstanding dues will not be issued an NOC to sell or transfer their property, potentially halting the transaction.

Excise officials said bill distribution began across Punjab, including Lahore, on September 1, with around 1.4 million bills delivered so far. More than Rs 24 million has been collected over the past two months. The distribution of the remaining first-quarter bills is under way, while second-quarter bills are scheduled to be issued from January 1.

Punjab has around five million property units. According to officials, nearly 20 per cent are located in housing societies and towns where administrations already charge residents for sanitation and waste collection. These areas will be exempt from the government’s garbage tax. Residents can also obtain their bills online by entering their property number on the Excise Department’s website. Reports say the sanitation fee varies according to a property’s use and size.

The monthly charge for residential properties is Rs 300 for plots of up to five marlas, Rs 500 for five to 10 marlas, Rs 1,000 for 10 to 20 marlas, Rs 2,000 for 20 to 40 marlas and Rs 5,000 for properties larger than 40 marlas. Commercial properties are charged between Rs 500 and Rs 3,000 a month, depending on the size of the business. Previously, property owners generally had to clear their property tax dues to obtain an NOC. Under the new requirement, they must also pay any applicable sanitation fee before seeking clearance. The government says the fee will support the province’s cleanliness programme.