Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
An intra court appeal has been filed in the Lahore High Court against the collection of capacity charges in electricity bills, arguing that consumers are being charged for electricity that was neither generated nor used.
In the appeal, the petitioner has made the federal government, NEPRA, PPIB and CPPA parties to the case. The petition states that the recovery of capacity charges through electricity bills is unconstitutional, illegal and against public interest, especially at a time when ordinary consumers are already burdened by expensive electricity, taxes and additional charges.
The petitioner has maintained that under the name of capacity charges, consumers are being forced to pay for electricity that was not actually consumed. According to the petition, these charges included in electricity tariffs are placing an unnecessary financial burden on consumers, making judicial review of the system essential.
The appeal has requested the Lahore High Court to set aside the single bench’s decision under which the earlier petition was dismissed. The petitioner has also urged the court to immediately stop the recovery of charges for electricity that was neither produced nor consumed.
The petition further seeks a constitutional and legal review of electricity tariffs, capacity charges and the related pricing mechanism to determine whether such charges can lawfully be recovered from consumers.
According to experts, capacity charges have become one of the most important and controversial issues in Pakistan’s energy sector. These charges are linked to payments made to power plants for their available generation capacity. However, consumers argue that the financial burden of these payments is being directly passed on to the public through electricity bills.
Following the filing of the appeal, the upcoming proceedings in the Lahore High Court have gained significance, as a possible court ruling could have major implications for electricity consumers, the energy sector and government policy.

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and district administrations have reviewed the progress of the Rawalpindi Master Plan and discussed key land management issues affecting urban development across the Rawalpindi Division, with authorities directing relevant departments to expedite implementation and improve inter agency coordination.
The review meeting was chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and Director General RDA, Engr. Aamer Khattak. It was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi and Attock, Assistant Commissioners from Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Hassan Abdal and Fateh Jang, along with senior officials of the Rawalpindi Development Authority.
During the meeting, participants received detailed briefings on land administration, property management and development-related matters in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Murree and other tehsils of the region. Officials presented updates on the status of public and private land holdings, ongoing development activities, future growth prospects and administrative challenges being faced in their respective jurisdictions.
A detailed presentation on the Rawalpindi Master Plan was delivered by the Chief Planner of RDA, who outlined the progress achieved so far, ongoing implementation efforts and key targets that remain to be completed. Following the briefing, Commissioner Aamer Khattak directed all concerned departments to accelerate work on the plan and ensure that development objectives are achieved within the prescribed timelines.
He emphasised that close coordination among district administrations, planning authorities and other government departments is essential for managing rapid urbanisation and ensuring orderly development throughout the region. He noted that effective planning and timely decision-making would help address infrastructure pressures, population growth and changing land-use demands.
The commissioner also highlighted the importance of safeguarding public land and taking effective measures against encroachments, stating that proper land management remains a critical component of sustainable urban development. He urged officials to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve enforcement to protect state-owned assets and maintain planned growth patterns.
Officials further underscored the need for a comprehensive and integrated planning framework that aligns land-use policies, infrastructure development and environmental considerations. They noted that the successful implementation of the Rawalpindi Master Plan would contribute to improved public services, environmental protection, economic growth and a better quality of life for residents across the division.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from participating departments to enhance collaboration, address outstanding administrative issues and support the timely execution of development initiatives envisioned under the Rawalpindi Master Plan.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has abolished the 66 year old Consolidation of Holdings Ordinance and enforced a new Repeal Act as part of efforts to end the province’s outdated and complex legal framework governing land matters. A formal notification in this regard has also been issued.
Under the new law, all pending consolidation schemes across the province must be completed within 180 days. Any cases that remain unresolved after the stipulated period will be dealt with under the Punjab Land Revenue Act 1967.
According to official documents, the government will have broad powers to introduce a digital system for land-related matters, issue new instructions and modernize the revenue administration system. Officials said the move would accelerate the digitization of land records and ensure that long-pending consolidation schemes are completed within the prescribed timeframe.
Government officials said the new legislation would bring an end to the old and slow land consolidation system, while practical measures to link land records with the digital framework would be expedited. The reform is aimed at reducing long standing delays in matters related to land partition, illegal occupation, ownership disputes and record correction.
The government expects that the new system will provide farmers, landowners and citizens with faster, easier and more transparent access to mutations, record correction and other revenue services, while also improving overall land administration in the province.