Punjab Province

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
Construction of three new underpasses on Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi is scheduled to begin during the first week of September 2026, marking a major step toward completion of the final phase of the city’s signal-free corridor project.
The three underpasses will be constructed at Qasim Market Chowk, Charing Cross Chowk and Qabristan Chowk, with the combined estimated cost of the projects standing at approximately Rs 8.835 billion.
The development is part of the final section of the Kachehri Chowk to Chungi No. 26 and Motorway Chowk signal-free corridor, which is being developed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on one of Rawalpindi’s key transportation routes.
According to the project plan, authorities have almost completed the relocation of utility services at all three construction sites. Alternative traffic routes have also been finalized to ensure that vehicular movement continues while construction work is underway.
The relocation of electricity, gas, telecommunications and other utility infrastructure is considered an important preparatory step before major civil works begin. Authorities are expected to implement traffic diversions in phases to minimize disruption for commuters and residents using Peshawar Road.
The three underpasses will eliminate major traffic signal points along the corridor and are expected to improve the movement of vehicles between central Rawalpindi and major road networks leading toward Islamabad and surrounding areas.
An underpass at Golra Mor has already been completed under the same signal-free corridor project. Once the remaining three underpasses are constructed and the overall corridor becomes operational, motorists are expected to benefit from significantly smoother and faster journeys.
The completed corridor will provide improved connectivity to Islamabad International Airport, the Islamabad Lahore Motorway, Peshawar Motorway and Hazara Motorway, strengthening the road link between Rawalpindi, Islamabad and major regional routes.
Under the project plan, travel time between Kachehri Chowk and Motorway Chowk is expected to fall to around 20 minutes once the entire signal free corridor is fully operational.
The project is also expected to support long term urban mobility in Rawalpindi by reducing delays at busy intersections, improving traffic circulation and providing more efficient access to major residential, commercial and transportation zones.
With utility relocation and traffic management arrangements nearing completion, the start of construction in September is expected to move the long-planned final phase of the signal free corridor into its main execution stage.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has restrained the Anti Corruption Department from taking disciplinary action against members of a private cooperative housing society, while examining the department’s jurisdiction to initiate inquiries into disputes involving private cooperative societies.
Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar heard a petition filed by Sheikh Sadaqat, general secretary of a private cooperative society, challenging the Anti Corruption Department’s intervention and inquiry against the society.
During Friday’s proceedings, the court issued an interim stay against the inquiry and directed that no disciplinary action be taken against the petitioner until the next hearing. The case has been fixed for further proceedings on September 21.
Advocate Mian Dawood appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner, while the Anti Corruption Department submitted its written response.
During the hearing, the prosecution maintained that under the Cooperative Societies Act, members of cooperative societies fall within the definition of public servants and can therefore come under the department’s anti-corruption jurisdiction.
The petitioner’s counsel strongly contested this position, arguing that the Lahore High Court had already settled the issue in its earlier judgment in the Khalid Wasim case. According to the counsel, the court had previously held that members of cooperative societies could not be treated as public servants because they neither hold government positions nor receive salaries from the government treasury.
The counsel further argued that in light of the earlier ruling, the Anti Corruption Department lacked legal authority to interfere in disputes concerning cooperative housing societies. He maintained that such matters should be dealt with by the Cooperative Department, which is the relevant regulatory and administrative forum for cooperative societies.
The petitioner also alleged that the Anti Corruption Department had increasingly been used to initiate inquiries against citizens on the basis of unsubstantiated complaints. He claimed that such proceedings had resulted in unnecessary harassment and misuse of official authority.
Describing the ongoing inquiry against the housing society as an example of alleged jurisdictional overreach, the petitioner’s counsel requested the court to declare the Anti Corruption Department’s proceedings unlawful and quash the inquiry.
The latest interim order provides temporary relief to the petitioner and prevents disciplinary action against him until the next hearing. However, the court has yet to issue a final ruling on whether the Anti Corruption Department has jurisdiction over members and affairs of private cooperative housing societies.
The case could have broader implications for the regulation of cooperative housing societies in Punjab, particularly regarding the respective roles and jurisdictions of the Anti Corruption Department and the Cooperative Department in dealing with complaints, administrative disputes and alleged irregularities within private housing societies.

Lahore | Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan
Concerns have emerged among stakeholders in the real estate sector over certain negative social media campaigns concerning DHA Lahore. Ch Touqeer Asif, Director Information of the DHA Estate Agents Association, said that unverified, misleading or one-sided information about the property market could undermine investor confidence and negatively affect real estate professionals and overall business activity.
According to him, DHA Lahore is one of Pakistan’s major and prominent real estate markets, with nearly 200,000 members. In addition to investors from across Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis from various countries also invest in DHA Lahore and consider it an important market for property investment.
Ch Touqeer Asif said that over the past few days, negative campaigns and commentary concerning different phases of DHA Lahore have appeared on certain social media accounts. He noted that, in some cases, the apparent objective of such activities may be to generate views, reach and social media engagement. However, he cautioned that the potential impact of irresponsible information should not be overlooked, particularly in a sensitive sector such as real estate.
He said that any news, claim or allegation appearing on social media should not automatically be treated as fact and should instead be verified through relevant and credible sources. He particularly stressed that making property investment or buying and selling decisions on the basis of rumours or unverified information could expose buyers and investors to financial losses.
The DHA Estate Agents Association also highlighted the importance of maintaining a professional code of conduct among real estate agents. According to the association, realtors operating in DHA Lahore have a responsibility to provide clients with accurate and verifiable information, avoid creating unnecessary fear or uncertainty in the market, and adhere to professional and ethical standards in property transactions.
Ch Touqeer Asif further said that the business activity of the large real estate community associated with DHA Lahore depends significantly on market confidence and a stable business environment. He urged all stakeholders to act responsibly when disseminating information and to verify facts thoroughly before forming opinions or making decisions about any property-related matter.