Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lieutenant General Retired Nazir Ahmed has said that comprehensive and historic reforms will be introduced to promote transparency, protect investors and improve ease of doing business in the real estate sector.
According to him, effective measures are being taken to eliminate fraud, file culture and non transparent transactions, so that the real estate sector can be brought under a transparent, organised and reliable system.
Addressing a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the NAB chairman said that in future real estate projects, the transfer of plots and ownership will be carried out through a regulator. He said cash transactions would be discouraged and all payments would preferably be made through banking channels, enabling better protection of investors’ rights and complete tracking of financial transactions.
According to the NAB chairman, no housing scheme will be allowed to sell more plots than the actual number available. Each plot will have a proper identification record, which will help curb issues such as fake files, multiple sales of the same plot and illegal booking. He said NAB was working to make the accountability process more effective, transparent and business friendly.
The meeting was also addressed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Faheem ur Rehman Sehgal and NAB Lahore Director General Mirza Faran Baig. On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Lahore Chamber and NAB to promote mutual cooperation. The NAB chairman also inaugurated the NAB Executive Facilitation Office established at the Lahore Chamber and planted a tree on the chamber premises.
The NAB chairman said NAB considers the business community an engine of growth for Pakistan’s economy and will provide every possible support for the promotion of business activities within the limits of the law. He said NAB’s purpose is not to create unnecessary difficulties for the business community, but to ensure the prevention of corruption, fraud and illegal financial activities.
Lahore Chamber President Faheem ur Rehman Sehgal said transparency, justice and the rule of law are the foundation of a strong economy. He stressed the need to further improve governance in public institutions and said the business community needs facilitation, confidence and continuity of policies.
The NAB chairman further said that work is under way on memorandums of understanding with different countries, including matters related to prevention of money laundering and information sharing. According to him, positive progress has been made with Saudi Arabia, while hurdles still remain with some countries.
He said matters related to funds being transferred to major financial centres, including Singapore and Hong Kong, were also under consideration, and efforts were being made to stop the flow of illegal financial transfers.
The NAB chairman said investment had started coming into the real estate and other sectors, and if this trend continued, the country’s economy would improve.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority has decided to end the buying and selling of files in private and public housing schemes located within LDA limits. From July 1, 2026, the buying and selling of plots will be allowed only through PLRA’s property certificate.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq with representatives of private housing schemes. The meeting reviewed matters related to the issuance of property certificates, digital transfer of records and linking housing schemes with a uniform software system.
DG LDA Tahir Farooq said that from July 1, file trading in all schemes operating within LDA limits will be stopped. According to him, private housing schemes are required to transfer their complete records to the Punjab Land Records Authority’s Housing Societies Management System by June 30.
He made it clear that linking the records of private housing schemes with PLRA’s HSMS system will be mandatory. After July 1, citizens will be able to buy and sell plots only through property certificates, while legal action will be taken against schemes that fail to shift to the system.
Tahir Farooq said a QR code will be placed on the property certificate, through which all information related to the plot will be available with a single click. A public awareness campaign will also be launched to guide citizens about the new digital system, property certificates and the end of file trading.
According to the DG LDA, private schemes are being given sub registrar powers under the uniform software system, while LDA and PLRA will jointly provide training to the private sector on the use of the software. Private housing schemes will also be able to issue green certificates and registries through the digital portal.
During the meeting, representatives of private housing schemes welcomed the digital reforms and said the initiative would increase transparency in the real estate sector and restore investors’ confidence.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Metropolitan Planning officer, Directors of Metropolitan Planning, Chairman ABAD, owners and representatives of private housing schemes, and representatives of PLRA, LDA and the Senior Member Board of Revenue.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that model agriculture malls will be established in all districts of the province in phases, saying every possible step will be taken to facilitate farmers in Punjab. She said better days had arrived for farmers and Punjab’s agriculture sector was entering a new era of modern facilities.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that for the first time in Punjab, farmers were being provided agricultural needs, advisory services and modern facilities near their villages under one roof. According to her, the government’s objective is to move farmers away from traditional difficulties and connect them with a modern, organised and well facilitated agricultural system.
According to the report, the concept of a One Stop Agriculture Input Market has been introduced in Punjab under the chief minister’s farmer friendly vision. Under this initiative, farmers will have access to quality agricultural inputs, fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, modern agricultural equipment, expert guidance and other facilities at one place.
Model agriculture malls have become fully functional in four districts of Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Sargodha. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities to take immediate steps for the establishment of model agriculture malls in 10 more districts.
Under the government’s plan, model agriculture malls will also be set up in Faisalabad, Jhang, Okara, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan, Attock and Mianwali, among other districts. The chief minister made it clear that the project would be expanded across Punjab in phases so that both small and large farmers could benefit equally from government facilities.
At the model agriculture malls, farmers will also be able to rent the latest agricultural machinery. This will allow small farmers to access equipment according to their needs instead of purchasing expensive machinery. According to officials, the initiative will help reduce production costs, improve crop yields and introduce modern practices in the agricultural process.
The management and operation of the agriculture malls are being carried out in partnership with the private sector to ensure transparent, effective and reliable services for farmers. The government says the model is aimed at combining official guidance with private sector efficiency in the agriculture sector.