Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Lahore High Court has adopted a firm stance against the cutting and pruning of trees across the city, issuing comprehensive and binding judicial orders aimed at safeguarding state land and public green spaces. The court took notice of an alleged case of illegal tree cutting near a private hospital and reviewed the conduct of the relevant authorities, expressing satisfaction that departmental action had been initiated against those found responsible. The court was informed that five officers, including the project director of the concerned scheme, have been suspended. Emphasising the seriousness of the matter, the Lahore High Court stated that negligence in environmental affairs or misuse of authority would not be tolerated, particularly in cases involving public land and the urban environment. In its ruling, the court directed that prior written permission from the Director General of the Parks and Horticulture Authority will be mandatory for cutting any tree or branch in any area of Lahore. The restriction will apply in all circumstances, including safety considerations, electricity lines, development projects, and routine maintenance. Following the court’s directions, the Parks and Horticulture Authority has issued an official notification imposing a complete ban on tree cutting and branch pruning throughout the city. Under the notification, even minor pruning will require written approval from the competent authority. In its remarks, the court noted that Lahore is already facing severe challenges such as air pollution, smog, and growing environmental stress, and that unnecessary tree cutting further intensifies these problems. The court underscored that urban green spaces are vital for public health and environmental balance. The Lahore High Court clarified that the order is not advisory in nature but a mandatory judicial directive, and that any violation may result in legal action against the concerned officials. The decision is being viewed as a significant step towards the protection of public land, environmental regulation, and institutional accountability.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has adopted scientifically designed greenbelts along major roads and highways to improve stormwater management and reduce urban flooding risks. Traditionally, elevated greenbelts restricted natural drainage during heavy rainfall, leading to water accumulation and severe road flooding. Under the revised approach, new greenbelts will be constructed at optimised, lower levels in line with international best practices, allowing natural water flow while preserving environmental objectives and avoiding disruption to existing infrastructure. The government has also accelerated work on the Lungs of Lahore and Ring Road Forestation Project, a pioneering environmental initiative aimed at reducing smog, improving air quality, and supporting sustainable urban development. The project envisions the creation of a forest-like green boundary around Lahore, serving as a natural buffer against air pollution and uncontrolled urban expansion. Authorities describe the initiative as a permanent ecological asset that positions Lahore alongside global cities adopting nature-based solutions to enhance environmental resilience. The model is expected to be replicated in other districts through the Punjab Housing Authorities. In the housing sector, Punjab’s flagship programme Apni Chhat Apna Ghar achieved a major milestone in 2025, with more than 50,000 homes completed. The initiative is designed to reduce the province’s housing deficit for low-income families by offering zero-interest and zero-fee housing loans, with a strong emphasis on social inclusion. Priority beneficiaries include widows, persons with disabilities, and minority communities. Additionally, the Apni Zameen Apna Ghar programme has been launched to secure land ownership for landless families. Built on a digital-first framework, the programme enabled 367,000 applicants across Punjab to apply online. It has now entered the implementation phase, marked by the first digital balloting of 2,000 free residential plots across 19 districts, including Kasur, Faisalabad, Attock, Sargodha, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, Jhang, Okara, Bhakkar, Khushab, Layyah, Vehari, Lodhran, Sahiwal, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar. Taken together, these initiatives reflect Punjab’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability, urban resilience, and social equity. The combined focus on climate-responsive infrastructure and inclusive housing aims to improve living standards while addressing long-term environmental and housing challenges across the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has advanced its agriculture market reform program through the operational expansion of a centralized digital monitoring system for essential commodities, reinforcing ongoing digitization measures across agricultural markets. The initiative was highlighted during official briefings in early January 2026, including discussions at the Punjab Assembly, as part of wider reforms under the provincial administration led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The digital dashboard has been developed and implemented by the Punjab Agriculture Department, in coordination with market management bodies operating under the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) framework. The system was formally presented by the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (SACM) during a briefing on inflation trends and crop pricing, where its technical features and operational coverage were outlined. The platform integrates real-time data on key commodities such as potatoes, onions, tomatoes, pulses, chicken, and other staple food items. Information is compiled from multiple stages of the supply chain, including production estimates, daily arrivals in public and private mandis, consumption patterns, storage levels in warehouses and cold storage facilities, and processing units such as flour, rice, and sugar mills. According to officials, the dashboard enables district- and province-level visibility of supply and demand, allowing authorities to monitor market movements on a daily basis. The system also includes data from both government-managed and privately operated storage facilities, providing a consolidated view of available stocks and movement trends. Administrative sources indicated that the digital system supports regulatory oversight by identifying supply gaps, monitoring price movements, and highlighting logistical constraints such as storage shortages or transportation delays. Flood alerts linked to grain storage locations have also been incorporated to support stock protection and food security planning during adverse weather conditions. The initiative forms part of a broader modernization effort within Punjab’s agriculture sector, which includes the digitization of fruit and vegetable markets, the phased rollout of Model Agriculture Malls, and the launch of a high-tech agricultural finance portal for machinery financing earlier in 2026. These measures are being implemented through provincial departments and market authorities to standardize market operations and improve record-keeping. Officials stated that the digital monitoring system will continue to be refined as more markets and storage points are linked to the platform. Further updates and technical details are expected to be issued through official notifications by the Punjab Agriculture Department and relevant regulatory bodies as implementation progresses.