Punjab Province

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
A major development project for the restoration of the historic Lahore Fort and its adjoining buffer zone has been approved, with the initiative aimed at improving the urban environment, preserving cultural heritage and promoting tourism in the area.

The Provincial Development Working Party has approved the revised PC-I for the Lahore Fort and Buffer Zone restoration project. The total cost of the project has been fixed at more than PKR 7.735 billion, while an initial allocation of PKR 1.941 billion has also been approved.

The project will focus on restoring the historic and urban environment surrounding Lahore Fort, along with measures to protect the city’s cultural heritage and improve facilities for visitors. Various development initiatives will also be undertaken to enhance the area’s overall appearance, functionality and tourism appeal.

According to officials, a key objective of the restoration initiative is to preserve the historic character of Lahore Fort while improving the surrounding urban area. The planned interventions are expected to enhance access to the heritage site, support tourism activities and improve civic facilities in the adjoining areas.

A formal request has also been sent to the Finance Department for the release of an additional PKR 1.19 billion. The release of funds is expected to facilitate and accelerate development work under the project.

Lahore Fort is one of the city’s most prominent symbols of its historic and cultural identity, while its surrounding area forms an important part of Lahore’s historic core. The proposed restoration work is expected to strengthen heritage conservation while creating greater opportunities for tourism, urban activity and businesses linked to the visitor economy.

The government plans to further strengthen the historic, cultural and urban character of Lahore Fort and its buffer zone, with the broader objective of developing the area into a more attractive and better equipped destination for domestic and international tourists.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has launched the land acquisition process for a major water supply project aimed at strengthening Rawalpindi’s long-term water infrastructure, with 25 acres of privately owned land identified near Kak Pul for the construction of key facilities linked to the Daducha Dam Water Supply Project.
Authorities have imposed Section 4 on the identified land, formally initiating the acquisition process. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has also approached the District Price Assessment Committee to determine the value of the land before proceeding with acquisition.
The land will be used for the construction of a water treatment plant, pumping station and water distribution infrastructure required to supply water from Daducha Dam to Rawalpindi.
Under the project, the city and cantonment areas will receive a combined 35 million gallons of treated water per day, with the supply planned to be divided equally between the two areas.
The overall water supply package, excluding the dam construction itself, has an estimated cost of Rs 36 billion. It includes a 28-kilometre transmission line, water treatment plant, pumping station and distribution network.
The Provincial Development Working Party has already approved the PC-I for these components at an estimated cost of Rs 36 billion. Authorities have also decided that the project cost will be shared equally by the Rawalpindi city and cantonment administrations.
Meanwhile, construction of Daducha Dam by the Punjab Irrigation Department has reached 94 percent completion, bringing the project closer to the stage where its associated treatment and transmission infrastructure can be developed.
The government expects the complete water supply project to be operational by 2029.
The acquisition of land near Kak Pul is considered a key step in completing the infrastructure required to move, treat and distribute water from the dam. Once completed, the transmission and distribution network will connect the dam’s water resources with the city’s supply system.
The project is part of broader efforts to expand Rawalpindi’s water infrastructure in response to rising urban demand. Its completion will add a new source of treated water while creating infrastructure for its distribution across both civilian and cantonment areas.
With the dam nearing completion and the associated Rs36 billion infrastructure package already approved, the focus has now shifted towards land acquisition and construction of the treatment, pumping, transmission and distribution facilities needed to bring the planned water supply into operation.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has declared Signature City Housing Scheme, formerly known as Century Town, an unapproved project and referred its case concerning online and social media advertising to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Rawalpindi.

According to an RDA spokesperson, Signature City Housing Scheme, located in Mouza Gurha Bherta and Begga Sheikha, was being promoted through social media, WhatsApp, YouTube and other digital platforms without obtaining the required approval from the competent authority.

The RDA has initiated legal proceedings against the scheme and issued a notice under the applicable law. The authority has also referred the matter of its online advertisements to the NCCIA Rawalpindi for further action.

The RDA cited Rule 46(1) of the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Scheme Rules 2021, under which sponsors of private housing schemes are not permitted to advertise or offer plots or housing units for sale through any medium without prior approval from the competent authority.

The authority also stated that the owners or developers of the project had allegedly made incorrect claims regarding obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the RDA.

The action against Signature City follows previous enforcement activity concerning the project under its former name, Century Town. In February 2023, the RDA had stated that it submitted an application for registration of an FIR against Century Town Housing Scheme.

The RDA has advised citizens to verify the legal status of private housing schemes through the authority’s official website before making any investment. Citizens have also been advised not to rely on advertisements or claims made by developers without independent verification.

The authority has also communicated with other relevant agencies regarding the advertising of illegal housing schemes, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, IESCO, SNGPL, PTCL, the District Collector and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).