Punjab Province

Lahore: [Riaz Hussain ReNews]
Director General LDA, Tahir Farooq, visited the ongoing development projects at the Data Darbar expansion scheme, Bhatti Chowk Underpass, and surrounding areas of the Railway Station, reviewing the progress in detail.
During the visit, Chief Engineer TEPA Iqrar Hussain and Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed briefed him that work on the pedestrian zone of the Data Darbar expansion project is nearing completion, while finishing work on the pedestrian underpass is continuing round the clock. Simultaneously, work on the parking area and the courtyard (piazza) of the shrine is also in progress.
The DG LDA also inspected the Bhatti Chowk Underpass project, where he was informed that overall 37% of the work has been completed, while 85% of the piling work has been achieved. On this occasion, he directed the contractor to expedite the pace of development work to ensure timely completion.
Later, he reviewed the ongoing development activities around the Railway Station. The briefing highlighted that development of the parking area in front of the station is in its final stages, with installation of solar lights and work on seating areas underway. Additionally, teams are actively working on façade upgradation along Circular Road and in the surrounding areas of the Railway Station.
DG LDA Tahir Farooq directed that progress on both projects should be regularly monitored and all work must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has decided to launch a large scale community development initiative aimed at providing affordable housing to low income families. In this regard, a key meeting on the Affordable Housing Program was held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Housing, Bilal Yaseen. During the meeting, Project Director of the Punjab Affordable Housing Program, Muhammad Abdullah, gave a detailed briefing on the proposed plan. It was informed that a comprehensive strategy has been finalized to initiate the project in the first phase in Faisalabad and Khanewal. Provincial Minister Bilal Yaseen stated that construction of more than 1,600 housing units will commence this year under the program. These houses will be offered to low-income families on easy and affordable installment plans. The project will also include essential facilities such as schools, mosques, basic infrastructure, and other amenities to ensure a complete and sustainable community environment. It was further shared that over 215 kanal of government land in Faisalabad and Khanewal has been allocated for the construction of these housing units, while government subsidies will also be provided to facilitate deserving beneficiaries. Bilal Yaseen added that under the “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” initiative, nearly 2,000 families have already been provided with free plots. Efforts are being accelerated to complete ongoing projects before the next fiscal year. According to officials, the initiative is being seen as a significant step towards ensuring affordable housing for low-income segments and improving their overall standard of living.

Faisalabad | ReNews Pakistan
Recent reforms introduced by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are beginning to reshape taxpayer behaviour, as stricter and more expensive conditions on international travel and property transactions encourage non filers to voluntarily enter the tax net.
Speaking at an awareness seminar hosted by the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Secretary Tax Education Muhammad Muti ur Rehman Mumtaz said the government has deliberately avoided direct punitive measures against non filers. Instead, it has implemented policies that make key financial activities such as foreign travel and property dealings significantly more costly and cumbersome for individuals who remain out the documented tax system.
He explained that these measures are part of a broader institutional restructuring of the FBR initiated nearly two years ago. The reform process involved extensive consultations with stakeholders aimed at identifying systemic gaps, improving enforcement, and enhancing transparency. A major component of the reforms includes reducing the discretionary powers of tax officials through digitalisation and automation, thereby minimising human intervention and curbing opportunities for tax evasion.
According to Mumtaz, early results of these reforms are encouraging. Enhanced monitoring in critical sectors, including the sugar industry, has led to a notable increase in sales tax collection. Similar improvements have been observed in textiles, steel, beverages, and cement sectors. The adoption of automated systems has also reduced disputes related to tax assessments, fostering greater trust and efficiency in the system.
He further revealed that approximately 1.7 million new taxpayers have been added to the national tax base as a result of these initiatives. Efforts are ongoing to further document the economy, with the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) now effectively serving as a universal tax identification number. This integration enables authorities to track financial transactions more efficiently and identify potential taxpayers.
Highlighting enforcement mechanisms, Mumtaz noted that the Point of Sale (POS) system has been introduced to ensure that businesses collect taxes directly on behalf of the government. Strict action is being taken against entities that fail to comply. Additionally, authorities have used utility consumption data to identify millions of potential taxpayers, with initial notices already issued to a significant number of them.
Officials emphasised that the long-term objective of these reforms is to reduce tax evasion and eventually eliminate the distinction between filers and non-filers. This will be achieved by promoting voluntary compliance through a combination of policy incentives, technological upgrades, and improved governance.
Representatives of the business community present at the seminar welcomed the reforms but stressed the importance of continued coordination between government institutions and the private sector. They underscored that sustained engagement is essential to strengthening the tax framework and ensuring long term, sustainable economic growth.