The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Islamabad/Rawalpindi has helped resolve a longstanding dispute over the mining lease for pozzolan in Gaini, Diamer district, Gilgit-Baltistan. NAB said the development secured national resources valued at Rs 123 billion. The Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to grant a new lease to WAPDA and the Diamer Bhasha Development Company (DBDC). The initiative was taken on the directions of NAB Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Nazir Ahmed.

Pozzolan is a volcanic material that can be blended with cement to produce roller-compacted concrete. According to WAPDA, extraction and transportation of the material from Gaini began on September 25. It will be processed for use in the main structure of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, paving the way for roller-compacted concrete placement at the project site.

NAB’s statement did not specify how the dispute was resolved or how the value of Rs 123 billion was calculated. However, at a meeting on strategic water projects chaired by the prime minister in December 2025, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration was directed to hand over reservoir land in Gaini to WAPDA and cancel leases granted within the reservoir area. The meeting also said that, if required, leases for pozzolan deposits outside the reservoir limits could be considered under the applicable rules, while WAPDA was directed to pay royalties to the Gilgit-Baltistan government in accordance with the law.

The prime minister’s earlier directives also called for preventing any party from interfering in Gaini’s pozzolan-related matters to avoid disruption to material supplies for the Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu projects. According to NAB, resolving the dispute and deciding to grant a new lease has cleared the way for continued mining and supply of pozzolan for the major water project.

Lahore Fort’s historic Akbari Gate has been restored after remaining closed since British rule, paving the way for a new public entrance linking the fort with the Walled City.

Authorities plan to install a ticketing booth before opening the gate for visitors and local residents.
A soft launch ceremony was held to mark the restoration of the gate and the Curator’s House, another historic structure within the fort. The conservation work was carried out under the Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone (HURL) project. Launched in 2022, the project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA) in partnership with Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCS-P).

PWCA Director General Najmus Saqib said the restored entrance would improve public access to heritage sites, attract tourists and create economic opportunities. Reopening the gate is expected to provide a more direct connection between Lahore Fort and the surrounding Walled City. The Curator’s House, a British-era building that was previously used as a guard room and later for administrative and residential purposes, is set to be converted into an eatery for visitors.

AKCS-P Chief Executive Officer Tausif Khawaja said the conservation work was intended to preserve Lahore’s cultural heritage while supporting local communities and economic activity.

The Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme has disbursed more than Rs 104 billion in housing loans to 17,697 families, crossing a key milestone in the government’s effort to expand access to affordable housing finance.

Figures shared by Khurram Schehzad, Adviser to the Finance Minister, show that as of October 30, 2026, the programme had received 220,715 applications. Of these, 90,405 had been approved, giving an approval rate of about 41%. The approved loans are worth a total of Rs 533 billion.
Loan disbursements have grown from Rs 21 billion in June to Rs 104 billion by the end of October. The value of approved financing has also increased from Rs 144 billion to Rs 533 billion over the same period.

Launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in April 2026, the nationwide scheme is designed to help low and middle-income families purchase or build homes. The five-year programme aims to finance 500,000 houses and is backed by a government allocation of Rs 3.2 trillion. Eligible applicants can access loans of up to Rs 10 million, repayable over 20 years. The scheme provides a fixed subsidised markup rate of 5% for the first 10 years; market rates apply thereafter.

Financing is offered through participating commercial and Islamic banks, microfinance institutions and the House Building Finance Company.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has inaugurated 127 development schemes in Attock, including 59 road projects with a combined cost of Rs 23 billion, according to the provincial government. The programme includes work on the Fatehjang–Pindigheb Road, Dhoke Laham–Jhamat Road and Mithial Chowk–Dhoke Pathan Road. The government said its development programme has delivered around 850 kilometres of roads across the district.

Alongside road works, the provincial government is funding drainage improvements in Attock city to help reduce the accumulation of rainwater. Attock’s road network serves rural communities and towns including Rawalpindi, Pindi Gheb and Fateh Jang. The planned rehabilitation and expansion could improve connections between these areas, though motorists may face temporary disruption where construction is under way.

The Attock projects follow the recent approval of Rs 32.8 billion in road schemes elsewhere in Punjab, as the province continues to expand its transport infrastructure.

A joint investigation team (JIT) has identified former advisor finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, as the alleged mastermind behind the One Constitution Avenue scandal in Islamabad and named several former Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials for their alleged involvement.
According to the JIT report, Shaikh worked in coordination with former CDA chairman Kamran Lashari, Faisal Awan and Azhar Ali Chaudhry.

The report alleges that the project caused financial losses to the national exchequer while enabling certain individuals and their associates to receive undue benefits. The JIT has recommended that Shaikh be blacklisted from participating in government projects. It has also urged the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to speed up its investigation and file a reference within three months. The team called for further investigation and action against those found responsible.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed the JIT’s findings at a press conference, saying the government would not protect anyone involved in the scandal. He also said the government would arrange a transparent re-auction of the project.

The allegations and recommendations are set out in the JIT report; any further action will depend on the investigation and relevant legal proceedings.