Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a major Rs 23 billion development package aimed at the uplift and prosperity of the riverine (Katcha) areas. She emphasized that these regions will be brought at par with the rest of the province in terms of development, ensuring the provision of basic facilities to local communities.
The Chief Minister directed the launch of the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” program and approved the allocation of 14,500 acres of government land to local residents. She noted that no major untoward incident has occurred in the Katcha belt over the past five months, adding that comprehensive measures are now being implemented to transform the area into a secure and model region.
Under the development plan, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges will be constructed, while transport facilities and mobile health services, including clinics on wheels, will also be introduced. Additionally, mobile veterinary hospitals and laboratories will be established.
To strengthen security, surveillance through modern solar powered drones will be initiated, while cameras will be installed in armored personnel carriers and police vehicles. Police stations and check posts will also be linked to the Safe City monitoring system.
In the education sector, 6,551 female students will receive school meal milk packs, while 300 students will be awarded merit-based scholarships and another 300 will be provided with laptops. The plan also includes the construction, rehabilitation, and upgradation of 65 schools, along with the establishment of 16 new schools and two girls’ colleges.
For infrastructure development, 108 kilometers of soling and 144 kilometers of 27 road schemes will be completed. Model village projects, sewerage, drainage, and sports initiatives will also be undertaken, while a skills development program worth Rs 125 million will be launched.
The Chief Minister also approved the initiation of NADRA registration services in the Katcha areas, issuance of CNICs and B-Forms, and a hard area allowance for security personnel. A special plan has been devised for the surrender of illegal weapons, which will be digitally monitored, with compensation to be provided based on the type of arms surrendered.
She further directed a ban on the cultivation of tall crops along major roads. Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed that ensuring development, security, and dignified livelihood opportunities for the people of Katcha remains a top priority, and the region will be transformed into a peaceful and prosperous area.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
Acting on the directives of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) teams carried out extensive operations across the city against illegal constructions, unauthorized commercial buildings, and non-payment of commercial fees.
During operations conducted on Thursday in various residential and commercial schemes as well as LDA controlled areas, 3 plots were recovered from encroachers, while a total of 213 properties were sealed.
The enforcement drive covered multiple key localities including LDA Avenue One, Jubilee Town, Gulberg, New Garden Town, Ali Town, Defence Road, Shadman, Gulshan e Ravi, Allama Iqbal Town, and Sabzazar.
In LDA Avenue One, plots No. 1298 and 1299 in Block M were retrieved from illegal possession and handed over to the rightful allottees. Similarly, an unauthorized access road constructed on Plot No. 1618-A in Block D was demolished. A illegal parking stand established on the green belt at Jubilee Town Main Chowk was also removed.
Under the Town Planning Wing operations, strict action was taken against properties involved in commercial misuse and non-payment of commercial fees. A total of 29 properties in Gulberg and New Garden Town, 47 in Ali Town, 56 along Defence Road, and 31 in Shadman and Gulshan e Ravi were sealed.
In a separate enforcement and recovery drive, an additional 50 properties in Allama Iqbal Town and Sabzazar were also sealed. The sealed premises included private schools, colleges, halls, bakeries, pharmacies, clinics, grocery stores, beauty salons, workshops, restaurants, food outlets, offices, and other commercial establishments.
The operations were supervised by Chief Town Planner-I Asad uz Zaman and Chief Town Planner-II Azhar Ali. LDA officials stated that indiscriminate action against illegal constructions, unauthorized commercial use, and fee defaulters will continue in the future.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has introduced a revised policy to provide significant relief to property owners facing penalties due to access area discrepancies, marking a major step toward addressing public concerns over high property related charges.
Under the newly approved framework, penalties will now be calculated based on the property rates applicable at the time of plot allotment, rather than the prevailing DC rates. This shift is expected to substantially reduce the financial burden on plot owners who were previously subjected to higher penalties due to escalating property values over time.
According to LDA officials, the policy was formulated after extensive deliberations led by the Director General and the Additional Director General (Housing). The decision reflects the authority’s effort to respond to persistent complaints from citizens regarding excessive and, in many cases, unfair financial demands during property transactions.
Previously, in cases involving access area differences, whether excess or short , penalties were calculated using current market aligned DC rates. This often resulted in significantly higher costs, particularly in situations linked to No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and property transfer procedures. Property owners frequently argued that such charges imposed undue financial pressure, especially when discrepancies were not directly attributable to them.
The revised policy ensures that all such charges, regardless of the nature of the discrepancy, will now be determined using the rates from the year in which the plot was originally allotted. This change replaces the earlier system based on present day valuations and is expected to bring greater fairness and transparency to the process.
The policy has received formal approval from the LDA Governing Body, and official minutes have been issued, paving the way for its immediate implementation in all relevant cases. Observers believe the move will not only provide relief to affected citizens but also help restore confidence in the regulatory framework governing urban property transactions.