Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
A major step towards modernising Pakistan's judicial infrastructure was taken in Lahore as Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum laid the foundation stone of the Rs 24 billion Judicial Tower, a landmark project that will bring all subordinate courts in the provincial capital under one roof and significantly improve the delivery of justice.
The Judicial Tower is one of the largest judicial infrastructure projects undertaken in Pakistan and is designed to address longstanding challenges associated with the scattered locations of subordinate courts across Lahore. By centralising judicial services, the project aims to enhance administrative efficiency, reduce delays in court proceedings, and provide greater convenience for litigants, lawyers and court staff.
According to official details, the Judicial Tower will be completed within 30 months at an estimated cost of Rs 24 billion. The state-of-the-art facility will include 184 courtrooms, dedicated bar rooms, record management facilities, administrative offices and a modern multi-level parking plaza capable of accommodating the growing number of visitors and legal professionals.
Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum visited the Lahore Bar Association where she inaugurated several important initiatives aimed at improving legal infrastructure, including the solarisation of subordinate courts, the establishment of an e-library and the inauguration of a dedicated female bar room. These projects are expected to improve working conditions for members of the legal community while promoting greater accessibility and sustainability within the judicial system.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar described the Judicial Tower as a historic milestone for Pakistan's justice sector. He said the project reflected Chief Justice Aalia Neelum's commitment to strengthening judicial institutions rather than pursuing personal privileges during her tenure.
The federal minister noted that the Chief Justice had consistently prioritised reforms that directly benefited litigants, lawyers and the overall judicial system. He also acknowledged the support extended by the Punjab government, particularly Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, for facilitating the implementation of the ambitious project.
Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon also hailed the Judicial Tower as a transformative development for Lahore's legal system. He credited both the Chief Justice and the Federal Law Minister for their leadership in turning the long-awaited project into reality, saying it would serve generations of legal practitioners and citizens seeking justice.
The ceremony concluded with Chief Justice Aalia Neelum presenting commemorative shields to session judges, civil judges and members of the legal fraternity in recognition of their contributions to the justice system.
LHC Senior Puisne Judge Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, along with other judges, senior judicial officers, lawyers and government representatives, also attended the event.
Once completed, the Judicial Tower is expected to become a modern judicial hub that not only improves court operations but also strengthens public confidence in Pakistan's justice system by making judicial services more organised, efficient and accessible.

Faisalabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) have agreed to enhance institutional coordination and accelerate the processing of housing finance applications under the Prime Minister's Apna Ghar Scheme, aiming to make affordable home ownership more accessible for eligible citizens across the country.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the FDA Complex in Faisalabad. The meeting was chaired by FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry and attended by SBP Chief Manager Fouzia Aslam, senior FDA officials, and representatives from commercial banks participating in the housing finance programme.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the current implementation of the scheme and agreed on a series of measures to improve efficiency. These include streamlining administrative procedures, strengthening inter agency coordination, and appointing dedicated focal persons from both the SBP and the FDA to ensure quicker processing of loan applications and prompt resolution of applicants' concerns.
Speaking at the meeting, SBP Chief Manager Fouzia Aslam said the Prime Minister's affordable housing initiative has received an encouraging response from the public. She revealed that more than 76,000 applications have been submitted nationwide during the past six months. Of these, over 18,000 applications have been approved, while financing has already been disbursed to more than 3,000 successful applicants, reflecting steady progress in the programme's implementation.
Under the Apna Ghar Scheme, eligible applicants can obtain housing finance of up to PKR 10 million at a subsidised annual markup rate of 5% for a repayment period of up to 10 years. The financing is available for the construction of houses on residential plots measuring up to 10 marlas, making home ownership more affordable for middle- and lower-income families.
FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry assured the State Bank and participating financial institutions of the authority's full administrative support.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Government of Punjab has officially restored the issuance of the traditional Fard (Record of Rights) for land records in areas where the land record system has not yet been digitized, providing significant relief to property owners, buyers, and sellers. The decision has been implemented through an official notification that withdraws the earlier suspension imposed after the introduction of the Green Property Certificate initiative.
According to the notification, the issuance of Fard will initially be limited to locations where digital land records are not yet available. In these areas, citizens will once again be able to obtain a Record of Rights through the prescribed legal procedure, allowing them to verify ownership and complete property transactions without unnecessary delays.
The latest move also removes the requirement for buyers and sellers in eligible areas to obtain or present a Green Property Certificate when transferring ownership of land or other immovable property. Instead, transactions can now be completed using a traditional Fard (Record of Rights) or a certified copy of the official land record, restoring the long established documentation process.
The suspension of Fard issuance had been introduced when the Punjab government launched the Green Property Certificate system as part of its broader land administration reforms. During that transition, conventional ownership certificates were temporarily discontinued, creating challenges for property transactions in areas where digitization had not yet been completed.
Officials say the Green Property Certificate system will continue to operate in areas that fall under the new digital framework, while the restored Fard system will serve non digitized regions until the digitization process is completed. The dual approach is intended to ensure uninterrupted property transactions across the province while supporting the government's ongoing modernization of the land record management system.
The restoration of manual land ownership certificates is expected to facilitate smoother property transfers, reduce procedural hurdles for citizens in rural and non digitized areas, and provide greater flexibility until Punjab's land record digitization programme is fully implemented across the province.