Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews International Desk News
Although air conditioning has become common in many parts of the world, its use remains relatively limited across Europe. Reports suggest that only around 20 percent of Europeans have access to air conditioning, mainly due to legal, economic, cultural and structural reasons.
One major factor is the presence of historic buildings and strict heritage protection rules in several European cities. In countries such as France, regulations often restrict changes to the exterior of historic properties, including the installation of external AC units, in order to preserve the original character and architectural value of buildings.
Rental laws and housing costs are another important reason. In countries such as Germany and Austria, a large share of the population lives in rented homes. Tenants often need permission from landlords before drilling walls or installing AC units. As a result, many renters avoid making major investments in properties they do not own.
High electricity prices also play a significant role. Compared with regions such as North America, electricity costs in many European countries are considerably higher, making air conditioning expensive to run and often viewed as a luxury rather than a routine household facility.
Cultural habits have also shaped Europe’s limited use of AC. Many Europeans still prefer traditional cooling methods, such as using heavy shutters, keeping curtains closed during the day, opening windows at night and relying on natural ventilation.
Experts say that because air conditioning was not historically seen as a necessity in much of Europe, there is also a shortage of trained AC installers. In some areas, installation can cost thousands of euros and may require bookings months in advance.

Lahore | Renews Pakistan
The Punjab government has enforced a new comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the protection, restoration and management of historic heritage across the province.
The government has implemented the Walled City of Lahore Authority Amendment Act 2026, under which the jurisdiction of the Walled City of Lahore Authority has been expanded beyond Lahore to the entire province of Punjab.
Following the new law, all historic walled cities, heritage areas, ancient buildings and historic properties across Punjab will come under one legal system and a strengthened authority. The move is aimed at protecting heritage sites from illegal construction, encroachments, unregulated repairs, commercial pressure and activities that may damage their original cultural identity.
Under the amended law, the Lahore Heritage Area Revival Board has also been established, while the Chief Minister of Punjab will serve as the chairperson of the authority. The authority will be empowered to oversee restoration of historic buildings, planning of heritage areas, monitoring of development works and legal action against violations.
According to the new framework, violations related to historic heritage may result in fines of up to Rs 2 million. All offences under the law have been declared non bailable. Officials say the new legislation will help establish a stronger and more coordinated system for heritage protection in Punjab and preserve the original identity of the province’s historic cities and cultural landmarks.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s flagship housing programme, “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar,” has achieved a major milestone in providing interest free housing loans to low income families. According to the Housing Department, more than 166,000 interest free loans have been disbursed under the programme, while over Rs 215.76 billion in financial assistance has been provided to eligible citizens for house construction.
A spokesperson for the Housing Department said that 105,594 houses have so far been completed under the programme, enabling thousands of families to move into safe and dignified homes. In addition, construction work is currently underway on 28,453 houses, while work on another 32,048 houses is expected to begin soon to help more deserving families realise the dream of owning a home.
The department said that more than Rs 14.5 billion has also been successfully recovered from the loans disbursed under the programme, reflecting transparency, effective implementation and the confidence of beneficiaries in the initiative.
According to official figures, 1,211,954 applications have so far been received for the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme, demonstrating strong public trust and growing popularity of the scheme among low income groups. The Punjab government maintains that the programme will continue to expand access to interest free housing finance and advance public welfare objectives across the province.