Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” scheme, a key government initiative aimed at providing affordable housing, has been hit by significant delays despite its importance. Failure to meet set targets has hindered the timely release of expected financial resources, slowing down the project’s progress.
According to official documents, the disbursement of the Rs25 billion loan allocated for the scheme has yet to materialize. Additionally, due to unmet targets, a planned $90 million funding from an international financial institution has also not been released, raising serious concerns over the project’s performance.
Furthermore, the lack of available land and delays in environmental approvals by the relevant department have been identified as major factors contributing to the slowdown. The documents also reveal that the limited institutional capacity of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) remains a key obstacle in the project’s implementation.
The report further states that $44 million expected under the DLR system in 2024 could not be secured, while an additional $52 million remains pending in the current fiscal year, leaving the future of the project uncertain.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
On the directives of Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing conducted an operation against illegal commercial buildings and defaulters of commercial fees.
LDA teams carried out operations in various housing schemes and LDA-controlled areas, sealing a total of 139 properties. The enforcement actions took place in Township, Quaid-e-Azam Town, Gulberg, Model Town Extension, Main GT Road near Shalamar Garden, private housing schemes, Defence Road, and Mustafa Town.
The teams sealed 25 properties in Township and Quaid-e-Azam Town, 27 properties along Main GT Road near Shalamar Garden, 15 properties in private schemes, 30 properties on Defence Road, and 22 properties in Gulberg and Model Town Extension due to illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercial fees.
Additionally, during a recovery operation, 20 properties were sealed in Mustafa Town.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
To ensure the protection of public property rights, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced modern, transparent, and citizen-friendly digital reforms in the land administration system. These amendments are expected to safeguard ownership rights, reduce land disputes, and restore public confidence.
In an exclusive conversation with ReNews, a spokesperson for the Punjab Board of Revenue stated that under the new amendments, verbal land transfers have been banned, and formal registration of possession transfer has been made mandatory. The duration for deciding land partition cases has been reduced to 60 days, and a facilitation mechanism has been introduced to guide landowners.
He further added that a Land Facilitation Program has been launched across the province to improve access to land record services. A secure digital transfer system has also been introduced for property transactions in approved housing societies. Additionally, Green Property Certificates have been issued to simplify financial transactions and ensure secure ownership.
The spokesperson highlighted that full digitalization of revenue courts has been implemented, and a Punjab Property Tribunal will be established to ensure fair resolution of property disputes.
Moreover, under the amendments to the Punjab Revenue Act 1967, illegal occupation of property has been declared a punishable offense, carrying a penalty of 5 to 10 years imprisonment along with a heavy fine.