Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (C&W) Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth has directed the department’s field formations to complete construction and remaining development work on 82 additional roads by September 7 under the Local Road Program.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the provincial minister to review progress on the road development program across Punjab. Secretary Communications and Works Raja Jahangir Anwar, Special Secretary, Additional Secretaries and other senior officials attended the meeting, while Superintending Engineers (SEs) and Executive Engineers (XENs) participated through video link.
During the meeting, officials presented a detailed progress report covering road projects in the North, Central and South regions of the province. The minister was also briefed on work being carried out on roads that have already been completed, including the installation of signboards, lane marking and beautification measures.
According to the directives, the department has been tasked with completing 26 roads in the South region, 33 roads in the North and 23 roads in the Central region by September 7. The minister instructed the concerned Chief Engineers and field officers to ensure that the deadline is met without compromising the quality of construction and rehabilitation work.
Bharth also ordered the department to immediately fill vacant posts in its field formations, stressing that adequate staffing is essential for effective supervision, timely execution and maintenance of road projects across the province.
The minister further directed officials to conduct comprehensive inspections of the shoulders of roads constructed since 2024. Any damaged or deteriorated sections identified during these inspections must be repaired within 10 days, he ordered.
To strengthen monitoring, Bharth instructed senior officials and field teams to undertake daily visits to project sites and roads. The inspections will focus on the physical condition of roads, progress of ongoing schemes, quality of construction and completion of assigned works within the prescribed timelines.
The minister emphasized that road development should not end with the completion of construction. He directed the Communications and Works Department to continue repair and maintenance activities after the monsoon season to protect newly developed infrastructure and ensure long-term improvements in Punjab’s road network.
The directions come as the provincial government continues efforts to improve local road infrastructure, enhance connectivity between urban and rural areas and address deteriorated road sections through construction, rehabilitation and regular maintenance.
Officials were directed to maintain close coordination between headquarters and field formations and ensure that development targets are achieved according to the approved schedule.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved the establishment of new small industrial estates in Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Kot Pindi Das to promote industrial land development and business activity across the province. The government has also decided to accelerate work on the expansion of Sundar Industrial Estate-II in Lahore.
The decisions were taken at the 137th board meeting of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), chaired by Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain. The meeting was informed that land has already been identified for the proposed industrial estates.
From a real estate perspective, the initiative is significant as the development of new industrial estates could increase demand for industrial plots, factory units, warehouses, commercial facilities and supporting infrastructure in these cities. The Punjab Industries Department has also compiled district-level data on thousands of industrial units to support industrial planning across the province.
The board also approved the establishment of a new industrial park in Gujranwala. In addition, a Rs500 million interest-free loan scheme was approved for women investors and artisans, under which loans ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs10 million will be provided. Another Rs500 million revolving fund was approved to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). New businesses will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs10 million, while existing businesses seeking expansion will be able to obtain loans of up to Rs5 million.
A key decision concerning industrial real estate was the approval of a relief package for allottees whose plots in Sundar Industrial Estate-II had been cancelled. Under the approved package, eligible allottees will receive a 20 percent relief on outstanding dues upon payment according to the prescribed terms. However, they will be required to commence factory construction within six months and bring their industrial units into production within two years.
The Punjab Small Industries Corporation’s 2026 auction programme for industrial and commercial plots includes Sundar Industrial Estate-II as well as industrial centres in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Bahawalpur and other cities. The programme reflects the government’s broader focus on putting industrial land into productive economic use.
According to the Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce, a major programme will be launched this year to upgrade infrastructure in Punjab’s 23 small industrial estates. The programme will include improvements to roads, sewerage and drainage systems. The government believes that better industrial infrastructure will help attract investment, create employment opportunities and strengthen small and medium-sized businesses.
From a real estate perspective, the impact of new industrial estates is expected to extend beyond factory plots. Industrial development can generate demand for warehouses, transport facilities, workshops, commercial centres and residential accommodation for workers and business communities. As a result, industrial and adjoining commercial and residential real estate activity could increase over time in Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and other areas where new industrial estates are planned.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
A meeting chaired by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq reviewed digital reforms, field inspections and the monitoring system in the Town Planning Wing, with a focus on integrating town planning activities into digital systems and improving service delivery.
The LDA DG directed that complete data of the Town Planning Wing be updated on the monitoring dashboard without delay. He also ordered the early implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inspections and field activities to ensure greater transparency and effectiveness in enforcement operations.
He directed the authorities to develop an effective digital mechanism to prevent illegal commercial activities and improve the recovery of fines. He said digital monitoring of field operations, inspections and sealing drives would strengthen oversight and enable the authority to take quicker action against violations.
Tahir Farooq further directed that all teams conducting inspection and sealing operations in the field must prominently display QR-code-based identification cards. He also ordered strict action against private individuals misusing the LDA’s name while carrying out activities or operations.
The DG instructed the Chief IT Officer to immediately update the monitoring dashboard for the digital mapping of illegal commercial properties. He stressed that modern technology should be effectively utilised to improve the identification and monitoring of illegal commercial activities and strengthen the mechanism for recovery of fines.
He directed the concerned officers to take all possible measures to facilitate citizens and improve service delivery. Officers of the Town Planning and Housing Wings were also instructed to ensure digital monitoring of field teams and maintain effective oversight of field activities.
The meeting was attended by the Additional DG Housing, Chief IT Officer, Chief Town Planner-I, Chief Town Planner-II, Chief Metropolitan Planner, Director Finance and Director Revenue, among other senior officials.