Lahore Division

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has initiated preparations for major changes to the laws governing the establishment of new industries and the expansion of existing industrial units in the province, with plans to introduce the Punjab Industries Control Amendment Ordinance 2026.
The draft ordinance has been forwarded to the Punjab cabinet for approval. Further legal proceedings are expected to follow once the cabinet gives its clearance.
The proposed amendments are primarily aimed at improving the approval process required for setting up new industries or expanding existing industrial units, while reducing unnecessary administrative and regulatory hurdles that may delay industrial projects and discourage fresh investment.
According to officials, changes are being proposed after reviewing the existing legal and administrative requirements governing industrial establishment and expansion. The objective is to make the approval system clearer, more transparent and more efficient.
Under the proposed legal framework, the government intends to make it easier for industrialists and investors to undertake business expansion while simultaneously strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure industrial activities remain compliant with applicable laws and regulations.
The provincial government believes that improvements in the approval process could help remove avoidable obstacles facing new industrial projects and make it easier for existing businesses to increase production capacity and expand their operations.
The proposed amendments are also being linked to the government’s broader efforts to improve Punjab’s investment climate. As one of Pakistan’s major industrial centres, Punjab considers the establishment of new industries and the expansion of existing units important for generating employment, increasing production and stimulating wider economic activity.
Officials said the proposed ordinance would also focus on enhancing transparency in industrial approvals and strengthening the role of relevant regulatory authorities, with the aim of balancing ease of doing business with effective enforcement of legal requirements.
The final provisions of the ordinance will become clearer after the Punjab cabinet reviews and approves the draft, determining the practical changes to the existing regulatory and approval framework for setting up new industries and expanding existing industrial units.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has sealed 87 properties across different parts of the city as part of a major crackdown on illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercialisation fees.
According to the LDA, the operation was carried out by its Town Planning Wing on the directives of Director General Tahir Farooq within areas falling under the authority’s controlled jurisdiction.
LDA teams conducted enforcement actions in Gulberg, Canal Road, Shadman, New Muslim Town, Poonch Road and Sabzazar against properties allegedly being used in violation of approved land-use regulations.
In Gulberg, 20 properties were sealed over illegal commercial use. Another 47 properties were sealed along Canal Road and in Shadman, New Muslim Town and Poonch Road for unauthorised commercial activity and non-payment of commercial fees.
In a separate recovery operation, the authority sealed another 20 properties in Sabzazar.
The sealed properties included private schools, grocery stores, clinics, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, gyms, hardware stores, electrical shops, pharmacies, retail shops, showrooms, offices and other commercial establishments.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad uz Zaman.
DG LDA Tahir Farooq said enforcement action against illegally commercialised buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue without discrimination. He added that properties violating applicable regulations within LDA controlled areas would face legal action.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister’s Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat programme has received a strong public response, with more than 89,000 applications submitted through the programme’s online portal so far, reflecting growing demand for safe and affordable housing across the province.
The figures were shared during a meeting of the Governing Body of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA), chaired by Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Bilal Yasin. The meeting reviewed the agency’s annual performance, future targets and progress on various housing initiatives being implemented by the provincial government.
For the first time, PHATA’s budget was also presented before the Governing Body. Participants were briefed on progress under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme, its achievements to date and measures being taken to expand access to housing facilities for eligible citizens. The housing minister expressed satisfaction over the programme’s progress and PHATA’s overall performance.
The Governing Body was also briefed on the Apni Zameen Apna Ghar programme, under which free residential plots are being provided to eligible citizens. Officials reviewed different stages of the initiative and measures aimed at enabling deserving families to secure land ownership for residential purposes.
In another major decision, the Governing Body approved an expansion of the affordable housing programme on PHATA owned land. The move is intended to utilise available public land for residential projects targeting low- and middle-income households and to increase the supply of affordable homes across Punjab.
Bilal Yasin directed officials to ensure effective enforcement of PHATA laws and regulations in affordable housing schemes and stressed that no project should be allowed to proceed without fulfilling the required legal and regulatory conditions.
The meeting also discussed the growing pressure of housing development on agricultural land and green areas. The minister said approvals for residential schemes in green areas had created environmental risks and directed authorities to accelerate enforcement action against illegal housing schemes.
He said the government would facilitate developers who fully comply with laws and regulations, but warned that strict action would be taken against those launching unauthorised projects or misleading the public through the sale of fraudulent property files.
The housing minister further directed relevant authorities to ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations at every stage of housing projects, including approval, construction and sale, in order to safeguard citizens’ investments and provide access to safe, legal and affordable housing.
The decisions taken by the PHATA Governing Body indicate that the Punjab government is seeking to expand housing and free plot initiatives for low-income families while simultaneously strengthening regulatory oversight and enforcement against illegal housing schemes and unauthorised property sales.