Lahore Division

Lahore | Riaz Hussain, ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that record speed, high quality and transparency have been ensured in road construction and restoration projects across the province, resulting in the completion of 1,129 roads in just 75 days and setting a new national record for development work.
A review meeting on development projects of the Communication and Works Department was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, where a detailed briefing was given on ongoing and completed road sector projects, utilization of development funds and schemes planned for the next financial year.
The meeting was informed that major progress has been made in rural road infrastructure under the Chief Minister’s “Sohnay Pind, Sohnian Rahwan” programme. In only 75 days, 1,129 roads with a combined length of 1,795 kilometers were completed at a cost of Rs 30 billion. From April to July this year, a total road network of 6,000 kilometers was completed, while 32,000 roads have been constructed or restored during the Chief Minister’s two and a half years in office.
According to the briefing, 99 percent utilization of development funds was ensured in the road sector. A total of Rs 125 billion has been allocated for the Chief Minister’s initiative, local roads programme and projects nearing completion. Under the local roads programme, 1,567 development schemes costing Rs 79 billion are being carried out, covering 3,400 kilometers of roads.
The meeting was told that the field staff of the Communication and Works Department worked day and night in three shifts to complete several projects ahead of schedule. Effective planning in road restoration projects also resulted in historic savings of Rs 11 billion.
The briefing further stated that the 93.5 kilometer Multan Vehari Dual Road, the 24 kilometer Faisalabad Chiniot Dual Road and the 13 kilometer Tourism Highway Dual Road have been completed. In addition, 77 percent work has been completed on 86 schemes under Phase One of the Road Restoration Programme, while 31 percent work has been completed on 41 schemes under Phase Two. All 124 flood affected roads have also been fully restored.
The meeting approved the establishment of six new international standard service areas under the Punjab Ring Road Authority, expected to generate around Rs 500 million in annual revenue. The Chief Minister directed that all six service areas be made fully operational by December this year. She also ordered accelerated work on beautification of the Ring Road, restoration of the Northern Loop and improvement of entry and exit points on highways across Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed authorities to ensure proper lane marking on all highways in Punjab and to present a final completion timeline for all roads currently under construction across the province.
The meeting was also informed that 42 new road construction schemes have been included in the new financial programme. Rs 17 billion has been approved for local roads and Rs 17.23 billion for the Chief Minister’s initiative. A total of 907 schemes, including Faisalabad Chiniot Phase Two under public private partnership, have also been approved.
The meeting further decided to immediately construct and restore flood affected local roads and complete unfinished and underfunded road projects left by previous governments at a cost of Rs 14 billion. Funds worth Rs 51 billion have also been approved for the construction of new roads in Punjab.
At the end of the meeting, the Communication and Works Department presented a commemorative souvenir to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The Chief Minister appreciated the department’s performance in completing projects within the stipulated timeframe and directed officials to maintain both the pace and quality of development work.

Lahore: [Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has intensified its crackdown against illegal commercial activities and commercial fee defaulters, sealing a total of 154 properties during operations across different parts of the city.
The operation was carried out by the Town Planning Wing in the LDA controlled area on the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq.
According to the LDA, the actions were conducted in Gulberg, New Garden Town, New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, Gulshan Ravi, Revenue Society, Naz Town and Sabzazar, where several properties were sealed over illegal commercial use, non payment of commercial fees and as part of the recovery campaign.
As per details, 27 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town over illegal commercial use. Similarly, 50 properties were sealed in New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura and Gulshan Ravi for illegal commercial activity and non payment of commercial fees.
Additionally, 42 properties were sealed in Revenue Society and 20 in Naz Town. During the recovery operation, 15 more properties were sealed in Sabzazar.
LDA officials said the sealed properties included private schools, academies, colleges, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, food points, bakeries, beauty salons, electric stores, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial establishments found violating rules or defaulting on dues.
The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali, while the relevant town planning teams carried out simultaneous actions at different locations.
LDA DG Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings, commercial fee defaulters and violators of regulations would continue. He said enforcement of urban planning rules would be ensured strictly and legal action would be taken against all violations.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has allocated funding for the feasibility studies of two landmark railway projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026 27, marking a significant step towards modernising the province's transport infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.
According to the ADP, the provincial government has earmarked PKR 200 million during the current fiscal year for the feasibility study of the proposed Lahore Rawalpindi High Speed Rail project. The total estimated cost of the feasibility study stands at PKR 452 million. The proposed rail corridor is expected to evaluate the technical, financial and operational viability of introducing a high speed passenger railway between Punjab's two largest urban centres, potentially reducing travel time while strengthening economic integration.
In another major initiative aimed at promoting tourism, the government has allocated PKR 49 million for the feasibility and initial development of the proposed Rawalpindi Murree Glass Train project. The tourist rail scheme carries an estimated cost of PKR 117 billion and is designed to provide a scenic rail connection between Rawalpindi and the hill station of Murree. Authorities have already initiated land acquisition for the railway alignment and station sites in Murree, indicating that preparatory work is progressing alongside planning activities.
The ADP further demonstrates the provincial government's emphasis on improving transport infrastructure through continued investment in strategic road projects. A sum of PKR 3 billion has been allocated for the 38 kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road project extending from Banth to the Thalian Main Carriageway. The overall project is estimated to cost PKR 47 billion, of which approximately PKR 29 billion has already been spent.
To support the next phase of the Ring Road network, the government has also earmarked PKR 69 million for the feasibility study of Ring Road Phase II, which will extend the route from Thalian to GT Road.
Urban mobility projects have also received funding under the development programme. The government has allocated PKR 100 million for the proposed Ammar Chowk Flyover, part of the Mall Signal Free Corridor project, which has an estimated total cost of PKR 3 billion. In addition, PKR 200 million has been reserved for the construction of the Race Course and Army Graveyard Underpasses, aimed at easing traffic congestion along key corridors.
Further allocations include PKR 93 million for the Tulsa Chowk Underpass, a project estimated to cost PKR 2.691 billion, and PKR 100 million for the COD Underpass, which has an estimated cost of PKR 3.75 billion.
In Gujar Khan, the provincial government has allocated PKR 100 million for the construction of two underpasses at Galiana Mor and Technical College Chowk. The combined estimated cost of these projects is PKR 4.531 billion, with the schemes expected to improve traffic flow and road safety in the rapidly expanding urban area.
The allocations reflect the Punjab government's broader strategy of investing in modern rail transportation, expanding tourism infrastructure and upgrading road networks to support economic growth, improve regional connectivity and accommodate increasing urban mobility demands across the province.