Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) attracted proposed investment of more than Rs 76 billion during September 2026 after authorities approved 34 applications for new industrial enterprises, potentially creating more than 7,000 jobs across the province.
According to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the approvals were granted following coordinated efforts involving the Punjab government, Punjab Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) and Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC).
The approved applications relate to industrial projects proposed across different special economic zones in Punjab and include matters involving land allocation as well as other regulatory and administrative approvals that had remained pending.
The proposed projects cover several major industrial sectors, including textiles, ceramics, chemicals, agricultural processing and engineering, indicating a diversified pipeline of manufacturing and value-added investment in the province.
Authorities expect the planned projects, once implemented, to strengthen Punjab’s industrial base, increase production capacity and generate employment opportunities for thousands of workers.
However, the investment amount of more than Rs 76 billion and the estimated creation of over 7,000 jobs represent the potential associated with the approved projects rather than investment already deployed or employment already generated.
The approvals form part of broader efforts by SIFC and provincial authorities to facilitate investors by resolving procedural bottlenecks, accelerating land allotments and streamlining regulatory approvals for enterprises seeking to establish operations in designated economic zones.
SIFC has been coordinating with SEZA Punjab and the two industrial estate development companies to expedite pending applications and address delays faced by prospective investors in completing administrative and land-related requirements.
Special Economic Zones are intended to promote industrialisation by providing designated areas for manufacturing and other commercial activities, supported by dedicated infrastructure and investment facilitation mechanisms.
The latest approvals are expected to help advance industrial projects already in the pipeline and could contribute to higher private-sector investment, increased economic activity and employment generation in Punjab if the proposed ventures move into the implementation and operational stages.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has published lists identifying a total of 152 cancelled residential plots in Chahar Bagh I and Chahar Bagh Enclave, prompting buyers and investors to verify the current status of any plot directly with the authority before entering into a transaction.

According to the published details, Chahar Bagh I accounts for 114 of the cancelled plots, comprising 10 marla and one kanal residential plots located in Blocks A, D, D-Extension and E.

A further 38 cancelled plots have been listed in Chahar Bagh Enclave, including 3, 5, 7 and 10 marla plots situated in Blocks B, C and D.

The publication of the lists is significant for Lahore’s property resale market because a cancelled plot carries a different legal status from a plot with unpaid instalments or other active allotment issues.

Prospective buyers have been cautioned that a dealer advertisement, an old allotment letter or a previous payment receipt should not be treated as sufficient proof that an allotment remains active. RUDA’s latest official records are the primary source for confirming the current validity of a plot.

The published cancellation lists do not specify the individual reason for cancellation of each plot and also do not state whether a cancelled plot may be restored after payment of outstanding dues or fulfilment of other requirements.

Buyers and investors have therefore been advised not to assume that restoration is automatic or that a cancelled plot is permanently unavailable. Any restoration claim should be verified directly with RUDA before a resale transaction is completed or a market premium is calculated.

The distinction is important for the property market because cancellation affects the underlying validity of an allotment, while market premium refers only to the amount paid above or below the original value of an active allotment in the resale market.

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA), on the directives of Director General Tahir Farooq, has intensified action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters, sealing 26 properties in different parts of the city.
According to LDA officials, Town Planning Wing teams carried out operations in Gulberg, Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazar and other areas falling within the authority’s controlled limits.
During the recovery operation, 15 properties were sealed in Gulberg and another six in Allama Iqbal Town.
Separately, five additional properties were sealed in Sabzazar over illegal commercial use.
The sealed properties included a private school, auto workshops, a food outlet, a salon, showrooms, shops, offices and other commercial units.
The LDA said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad-uz-Zaman.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue without discrimination, adding that those violating rules and regulations would face action in accordance with the law.