Punjab Province

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
On the instructions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, the Town Planning Wing of the Lahore Development Authority carried out a major operation in the LDA controlled area against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercial fees, sealing 170 properties.
LDA teams conducted operations in different areas, including Gulberg, Faisal Town, Gulshan Ravi, GT Road, PCSIR Scheme College Road, Allama Iqbal Town and Sabzazar. The operation was carried out over illegal commercial use, non payment of commercial fees and violation of rules and regulations.
According to the LDA, 25 properties were sealed in Gulberg and Faisal Town over illegal commercial use and non payment of commercial fees. Similarly, 35 properties were sealed during action in Gulshan Ravi and on GT Road.
On PCSIR Scheme College Road, LDA teams sealed 70 illegal commercial shops. During the recovery operation, 40 properties were also sealed in Allama Iqbal Town and Sabzazar.
The sealed properties include private schools, restaurants, food points, beauty salons, clinics, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial units.
LDA officials said the operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asad uz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali. Relevant town planning staff of the LDA also participated in the operation.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate actions against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercial fees would continue. He said illegal commercial activities would not be allowed in the city and strict action would be taken in accordance with the law against those violating the rules.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
A decision has been made to remodel model roads in Lahore to improve traffic flow and provide better travel facilities to citizens. In the initial phase, the remodeling process has been started on Main Boulevard to improve traffic flow.
According to Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, 5 of the 11 bus bays on Main Boulevard will be widened so that traffic movement on the main road is not affected when buses stop. He said that currently, buses stopping on the main road create hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic, but the expansion of bus bays will help address this issue.
The CTO Lahore said the rickshaw stand around the Metro Bus stop on Main Boulevard is also being reorganized to manage disorderly traffic. The new rickshaw stand will have space for 12 rickshaws at a time, while rickshaws will be dispatched every five minutes to facilitate passengers and maintain traffic flow.
Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi said the remodeling plan has entered its final stages with the support of engineers from the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency, TEPA, while practical measures are being taken at different locations to improve traffic movement.
He said an additional 18 feet of road space will be added at Defence Mor to improve traffic flow, while the existing plan at Jain Mandir Chowk is also being reorganized to resolve traffic issues.
The CTO Lahore said that after the remodeling of Main Boulevard is completed, other model roads in the city will also be reorganized according to modern requirements, so that better travel facilities can be provided to citizens and traffic problems can be significantly reduced.

Lahore | ReNews Desk News
Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with startup Dewpoint Innovations, have developed a new paint-like coating that can cool buildings and collect water from the air without using electricity, a breakthrough that could be significant for hot and water stressed countries such as Pakistan.
The nano-engineered coating reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and releases heat into the sky through a process known as passive radiative cooling. This allows coated surfaces to remain cooler than the surrounding air, even under direct sunlight.
According to the researchers, the coating can keep surfaces up to 6°C cooler than the ambient temperature. This could help reduce indoor heat in buildings, lower the demand for air conditioning and ease pressure on electricity systems during extreme heat.
The technology works by reflecting most incoming sunlight instead of absorbing it. At the same time, it emits heat away from the surface and into the atmosphere. Unlike traditional cooling systems, the process does not require electricity, moving parts or a mechanical setup.
Researchers say the same cooling effect also creates favorable conditions for water vapor in the air to condense on the coated surface. The process is similar to dew forming on grass, car roofs or outdoor surfaces during cooler hours.
During testing, the coating was able to collect up to 390 milliliters of water per square meter per day under favorable conditions. The research team estimated that a 200-square-meter roof could collect up to 70 liters of water on good days, depending on humidity, temperature, weather conditions and surface size.
The coating was tested for six months on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub. The outdoor trials helped researchers assess how the material performed under real weather conditions. The study found that the coating could extend the dew collection period by several hours, allowing it to collect moisture for longer than ordinary surfaces.
Experts believe the technology may be useful in regions where heat and water stress are becoming serious challenges. Buildings absorb large amounts of heat during the day, increasing indoor temperatures and raising the need for air conditioning. In many countries, cooling already accounts for a major share of electricity use, and this demand is expected to rise further as temperatures increase.
A coating that can cool buildings without power could help reduce electricity consumption, particularly during heatwaves. It could also support energy grids by lowering peak cooling demand in residential, commercial and public buildings.
The water collection feature provides an additional benefit, especially for remote or water-stressed areas. However, researchers say the technology should not be viewed as a full replacement for regular water supply systems. Its performance depends heavily on humidity, temperature and the size of the coated surface. In very dry conditions, water collection may be limited.
The coating has been designed to work like paint, which could make it easier to apply on rooftops, walls and other building surfaces. This could improve its chances of being used at scale, as many cooling technologies fail to expand due to high installation costs or complex systems.
If developed commercially, the coating could be used on homes, schools, factories, warehouses and public buildings. It may be especially relevant for countries with hot climates, including Pakistan, where rising temperatures, power demand and water stress continue to create serious challenges for urban and rural communities.
Researchers are now looking toward commercial development of the technology, which could offer a low-energy solution for cooling buildings while providing limited additional water collection in suitable weather conditions.