Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that women are legally eligible to be appointed as permanent lumberdars in Punjab, setting aside executive orders issued by the Punjab government and declaring that gender alone cannot be used to deny a qualified woman the position.
In a detailed seven page judgment authored by Justice Raheel Kamran, the court allowed a petition filed by a woman from Lodhran who had challenged the appointment of another candidate as permanent lumberdar by the deputy commissioner and the Board of Revenue.
The court observed that the Constitution guarantees equality, inclusion and fair participation of women in public life, adding that no legal provision exists that disqualifies women from serving as lumberdars.
“This Court cannot remain oblivious to the contemporary constitutional ethos of equality, inclusion and fair participation of women in public life. No provision of law has been shown which disentitles a woman from holding the office of Lumberdar,” the judgment stated.
The petitioner’s father had previously served as the permanent lumberdar of the same village until his death. Following his passing, the petitioner had continued performing administrative responsibilities and was appointed as Sarbarah Lumberdar in 2002.
According to the court order, the woman had extensive experience in village administration and revenue affairs, making her fully competent for the permanent appointment.
“The record shows that she had been functioning as Sarbarah Lumberdar since 2002 and had been assisting the deceased incumbent in discharge of official duties,” the judgment noted.
The court further observed that the office of lumberdar is not merely ceremonial but requires practical understanding of revenue procedures, coordination with government officials, local familiarity and public accessibility.
Justice Raheel Kamran stated that where a female candidate fulfills all relevant legal and administrative criteria, her application must receive the same objective consideration as that of a male candidate.
The judgment emphasized that rural governance and revenue administration can benefit significantly from the participation of capable women in institutional roles that have historically remained male dominated.
“Such participation advances constitutional values of equal opportunity and strengthens public confidence in impartial administration,” the court said.
The LHC also warned against any direct or indirect bias that undermines women’s candidatures on grounds unrelated to merit, declaring that such discrimination cannot be justified under the law.
The ruling is being viewed as an important development for women’s representation in local governance and administrative structures across Punjab, particularly in rural areas where the office of lumberdar traditionally carries social influence and administrative responsibilities.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Government of Punjab has launched a comprehensive revision of property valuation rates in a strategic effort to attract investment from Gulf countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to revive momentum in the province’s real estate sector.
According to official sources, the initiative is designed to reduce the gap between government-declared property values and prevailing market prices. Authorities believe this disparity has long discouraged investment, increased transaction friction, and created tax burdens that particularly affect overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors.
The proposed changes were discussed during high-level meetings between Punjab government officials and representatives of the UAE business community. During these discussions, both sides reportedly emphasised the need for a more transparent and predictable valuation system to restore investor confidence and stimulate cross border real estate activity.
Officials said the revised valuation framework will initially focus on major urban centres and key investment corridors, where property transactions have slowed in recent years due to rising taxes, regulatory complexities, and widening differences between official and market-based valuations.
In addition to revising property rates, the provincial government is also considering broader reforms aimed at simplifying property transactions. These measures include reducing procedural bottlenecks, improving documentation systems, and creating a more streamlined environment for overseas buyers.
The real estate sector in Pakistan has been under pressure due to a combination of factors, including increased taxation, higher construction costs, and declining purchasing power among domestic buyers. Industry stakeholders have repeatedly urged authorities to rationalise property valuations in order to revive demand and attract fresh capital inflows.
The finalised valuation structure is expected to be announced after consultations with relevant government departments and key market stakeholders. Officials hope the reforms will not only stabilise the real estate market but also position Punjab as a more competitive destination for Gulf-based investment.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar visited Data Darbar in Lahore, where he offered Fateha at the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) and prayed for national security, prosperity, and unity and stability of the Muslim Ummah.
During the visit, the Secretary Auqaf briefed the Deputy Prime Minister in detail regarding ongoing development projects, administrative affairs, and facilities being provided to pilgrims at Data Darbar. He was also informed about expansion projects, security arrangements, cleanliness measures, crowd management systems, and improvements in public facilities at the shrine.
Ishaq Dar inspected various development projects at Data Darbar and appreciated the ongoing expansion program. He stated that the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) is a great center of spirituality, peace, tolerance, and Islamic values. He said the government is taking all possible measures to provide better facilities to pilgrims, adding that improvements in infrastructure, modern security systems, cleanliness, and effective administrative management reflect the government’s public friendly vision.
He directed the concerned authorities to ensure completion of the ongoing projects within the stipulated timeframe and according to high standards so that pilgrims visiting from across the country could benefit from improved facilities and a better environment.
On the occasion, Dr. Ahsan Bhatta said that all available resources are being utilized to complete the Data Darbar mega project on time, adding that the project would provide modern and quality facilities to visitors upon completion.
Executive Engineer C&W Muhammad Isa, Fahad Naveed, NESPAK General Manager Adil Nazir, Auqaf Executive Engineer Qaiser Munir, and other senior officials of the Data Darbadministration were also present during the visit.