Punjab Province

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
On the instructions of Lahore Development Authority Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing has intensified action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters. LDA teams carried out a large-scale operation in different areas of the LDA-controlled zone and sealed a total of 215 properties.
According to the LDA, the operations were conducted in several areas including Gulberg, Faisal Town, Samanabad, Shadbagh, Gulshan Ravi, College Road, NFC, UET Private Society, Allama Iqbal Town and Defence Road. During the operation, several properties were sealed over illegal commercial use, violation of commercialization rules and non-payment of commercial fees.
According to details, 30 properties were sealed in Gulberg and Faisal Town over illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercial fees. Similarly, action was taken against 75 properties in Samanabad, Shadbagh and Gulshan Ravi, while 60 properties were sealed on College Road, NFC and UET Private Scheme.
During the recovery operation, LDA teams also sealed another 50 properties in Allama Iqbal Town and Defence Road. The sealed properties included private schools, colleges, academies, halls, banks, grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, food points, beauty salons, clinics, electric and hardware stores, estate offices, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, shops, offices and other business centres.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad-uz-Zaman and Chief Town Planner-II Azhar Ali. According to LDA officials, notices had been issued to the relevant properties in accordance with rules and regulations before the operation; however, the sealing action was taken after failure to comply with the law.
DG LDA Tahir Farooq said that indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue. He said the LDA was taking lawful measures to ensure urban development, enforcement of town planning laws and regulation of commercial activities.

Lahore : [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board (LHAR) has clarified that the historic Ewing Hall in Anarkali, Lahore, will not be demolished and will instead be preserved, restored and rehabilitated in accordance with heritage conservation principles.
The clarification came after public concern and media reports regarding the future of the historic building, which is considered an important part of Lahore’s architectural and educational heritage.
According to a statement issued by LHAR, Ewing Hall was leased in 1915 for use as student hostel accommodation. However, the building has reportedly remained unused for its original educational and hostel purpose since 2015.
The board stated that rental dues of more than Rs. 10 crore, approximately Rs. 107 million, had accumulated over time despite repeated reminders and notices issued to the concerned parties.
LHAR said the Board of Revenue, Punjab issued a formal show-cause notice in March 2026, giving all stakeholders an opportunity to present their position. Following hearings involving Forman Christian College and the Higher Education Department, the Member (Colonies) passed a legal order on April 27, 2026, resuming the land in favour of the provincial government.
The board emphasized that the decision was not sudden or arbitrary, but the outcome of a legal and administrative process that continued over several years.
LHAR further clarified that the building would not be removed or destroyed. Instead, it will be restored as part of the board’s mandate to protect and revive Lahore’s historic structures.
The board said both LHAR and the Walled City of Lahore Authority are committed to the preservation and restoration of heritage buildings, adding that Ewing Hall holds significant architectural and historical value for the city.
The statement also acknowledged the historical legacy of Forman Christian College and expressed respect for the minority communities associated with the institution.
LHAR stressed that the matter is purely legal and administrative in nature and is not aimed at any community, institution or group. The board also said it remains open to dialogue with all stakeholders regarding the preservation and future use of the historic site.
The clarification is expected to address concerns among heritage activists, citizens and educational circles who had called for the protection of Ewing Hall as part of Lahore’s cultural and architectural identity.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for an environment-friendly Punjab, an important and advanced scientific initiative is being launched to combat air pollution and smog in the province. As part of the project, Pakistan’s first EPA certified “Liquid Tree” will be transferred from Faisalabad to Lahore.
According to the Punjab Environmental Protection Department, the technology will function in the form of an artificial tree, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. Officials said this is the first technology since 1987 to be formally certified by the Punjab EPA.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that more than 100 species of microalgae were collected from Karachi to Khyber and tested over a period of seven months. Each species was examined for its carbon sequestration capacity and effectiveness. The most effective algae was found in Sukkur, Sindh. Its seeds were then cultivated in collaboration with Government College University Faisalabad and used in the bioreactor through modern scientific methods.
The project is also equipped with an artificial intelligence-based calculator that indicates how much carbon dioxide is being absorbed and how much oxygen is being released at a given time. Through this modern system, environmental performance will be monitored in real time.
The Chief Minister appreciated the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers, bioscientists and the entire team for developing and successfully testing the “Liquid Tree.” She said the project reflects the creativity, expertise and commitment of Punjab’s experts, scientists and environmental institutions.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the “Liquid Tree” is an advanced scientific method that uses algae grown in water and a bioreactor system to remove carbon dioxide from the environment. She said the technology could prove to be a game-changer in reducing pollution in urban areas.
The Chief Minister directed that the project be expanded following the successful trial. In the first phase, Liquid Trees will be installed at major malls, plazas, commercial areas and other urban locations, both indoors and outdoors.
She said artificial trees installed in large plazas and commercial areas would help improve the environment in the same way as natural trees. The project, she added, would prove to be a major breakthrough in Punjab’s fight against smog, carbon dioxide and air pollution.