Lahore Division

Lahore : [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority has sealed 128 properties in a major operation against illegal commercial use, non-payment of commercialisation fees and violations of building regulations in different parts of the city.
On the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing launched an operation against illegal commercial buildings and fee defaulters in areas falling under the authority’s control. The operations were carried out in Gulberg, New Garden Town, Johar Town, Gulshan Ravi, GT Road, Sabzazar and several other localities.
According to LDA officials, 39 properties were sealed in Gulshan Ravi and along GT Road during action against illegal commercial use. Similarly, 24 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town Scheme over illegal commercial activity and non-payment of commercial fees.
In Johar Town, LDA teams sealed 35 illegal commercial shops, while 30 properties were sealed in Sabzazar during a recovery operation. Officials said the actions were aimed at ensuring enforcement of building laws, recovery of government dues and curbing illegal commercial activities in residential areas.
The sealed properties include private schools, restaurants, food points, beauty salons, clinics, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, shops, offices and other business centres. According to the LDA, several of these properties had already been issued notices, but enforcement action was taken after continued violations and failure to clear outstanding dues.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali, while relevant directorates and field teams conducted simultaneous actions in different areas.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said operations against illegal commercial buildings, commercial fee defaulters and those violating building laws would continue without discrimination. He said ensuring compliance with urban development regulations is a core responsibility of the LDA and no relaxation would be given in this regard.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
More than 150,000 homeless families across Punjab have been issued interest free loans under the Punjab government’s “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme, helping thousands of families move closer to realizing their dream of owning a home.
During a briefing given to Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin on the progress of the programme, officials said that interest free loans have so far been provided to more than 156,000 families for the construction of houses. According to officials, the total value of loans issued under the programme has exceeded Rs 208 billion.
The briefing reviewed in detail the distribution of loans, houses under construction, completed units and pending applications. Officials said 32,412 houses are currently under construction at different stages across various districts of the province, while loan amounts will soon be released to another 7,792 families.
Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin directed the relevant authorities to further expand the scope of the programme in both urban and rural areas so that the maximum number of deserving families can benefit from the facility. He said the Punjab government would fulfill its commitment to provide interest free loans to another 100,000 families in the new financial year.
Bilal Yasin said the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme is an important welfare initiative for ordinary citizens, enabling tenant families to become homeowners. He added that thousands of families have already laid the foundation for a better and more secure future through the programme.
The housing minister said the Punjab government would continue taking practical steps to provide affordable, safe and dignified housing to the people. He said the government’s priority is to extend financial assistance on easy terms to homeless and low income families so they can fulfill their dream of building their own homes.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has prepared the second draft of recommendations for the next fiscal year’s budget, under which the total size of the provincial budget is expected to be around Rs 6 trillion.
According to government sources, the total development budget for Punjab in the next fiscal year is proposed at Rs 1.45 trillion. The proposed budget gives special importance to development initiatives, including transport, local government development, clean water, road rehabilitation, police infrastructure and improvement projects in rural areas.
Sources said the transport sector has been given top priority in the development budget, with major projects worth Rs 303 billion proposed for the sector. The government aims to provide better travel facilities to citizens, reduce traffic pressure and modernise the transport system in major cities.
According to the proposed budget draft, Rs980 billion is under consideration for the Annual Development Programme. Under this programme, work will be carried out in different districts to provide basic facilities, improve infrastructure and implement public welfare projects.
The budget recommendations also include the construction of new smart police stations in Okara, Rawalpindi, Kasur, Multan, Gujranwala and Pakpattan. These projects are aimed at modernising the policing system, improving public facilitation and strengthening the administrative structure of police stations through technology.
Sources said development works in Lahore, clean water schemes, the model village programme and other major projects will also be part of the upcoming budget. A proposal has been made to allocate Rs 30 billion for the model village project, while Rs42 billion has been recommended for the road rehabilitation programme.
For the next fiscal year, the proposed budget for the local government sector has been set at Rs 250 billion, while Rs 156 billion has been proposed for local government development. The funds will be used to improve local level development works, basic civic facilities, drainage, sanitation, roads and other municipal projects.
Government sources said the budget draft prioritises public facilities, infrastructure improvement and local development. The final budget recommendations will become part of the provincial budget for the next fiscal year after approval.