Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Yingming Yang, with detailed discussions held on ongoing development projects, construction activities and future cooperation across various sectors in the province.
The meeting focused on accelerating projects aimed at improving basic public services and strengthening infrastructure, with both sides agreeing to continue cooperation in the provision of clean drinking water, healthcare and education.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stressed the need for ADB assistance in the development and expansion of major healthcare projects in Punjab, including cardiac, children’s and cancer hospitals. She emphasized that continued international development support would help accelerate the delivery of essential public infrastructure and healthcare facilities.
The meeting also discussed the promotion of nursing education, expansion of training opportunities in the healthcare sector and the establishment of STEM laboratories in government schools. The initiatives are aimed at strengthening Punjab’s education and healthcare infrastructure while improving access to modern learning and professional training.
The two sides also reviewed matters related to three concessional loan agreements aimed at providing modern agricultural machinery to farmers. The proposed support is intended to promote the use of modern technology and machinery in agriculture and improve farmers’ productivity.
The chief minister thanked the Asian Development Bank for its cooperation in organizing the Punjab Agri-Food Investment Forum and said development projects across the province were progressing rapidly. She said the provincial government was implementing large-scale initiatives to improve basic public facilities and accelerate infrastructure development.
Maryam Nawaz described the Punjab Economic Transformation Plan as a game changer for the province’s economic growth. She said the government was simultaneously pursuing reforms and development initiatives in employment, investment, transportation, education, healthcare and agriculture.
The chief minister further said that an additional 2,000 electric buses would be deployed on Punjab’s roads by next year, expanding the province’s modern and environmentally friendly public transport network.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to further expand cooperation between Punjab and the Asian Development Bank and ensure the timely completion of ongoing development projects.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
On the directives of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been introduced to ensure greater transparency and effective monitoring of the authority’s enforcement and inspection regime.
Under the new system, enforcement actions against illegal construction, unlawful commercial use, violations of land-use regulations and non-payment of dues will be linked to a digital monitoring mechanism.
Notices issued against properties, along with sealing and demolition operations, will be digitally monitored. Through the Digital File Processing System, notices will carry QR codes, while geo-tagged photographs and relevant records will be monitored online. Sealed properties will only be de-sealed after payment of fines, legal restoration or grant of the required approval.
Under the new SOPs, properties have been divided into three major categories: illegal construction, unlawful change in the use of an existing building, and non-payment of dues. For the first time, the complete record of the de-sealing of any property will also be maintained digitally.
The SOPs clearly define the powers and responsibilities of Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors and Directors of Town Planning. All zones of the Town Planning Wing will be required to inform the relevant Chief Town Planner before initiating any sealing or demolition operation against a property.
A special committee headed by the Chief Town Planner has also been constituted to oversee the identification of illegal commercial properties, issuance, withdrawal or correction of notices, and enforcement action against unlawful commercial use.
The committee will comprise the Chief IT Officer, Director Revenue, Director Law and the concerned Director Town Planning.
Before declaring any property as an illegal commercial property, the committee will examine all relevant facts as well as its planning, legal and revenue status. It will also review the approved or unapproved building plan, temporary or permanent commercialisation status and the legal position of the property.
The committee will further examine complaints concerning properties, inspection reports, court stay orders or injunctions, as well as any prior approval, exemption, composition or regularisation granted by a competent authority.
The committee will also scrutinise outstanding dues, penalties, revenue records, digital data and site-related information. Its decisions, along with supporting records, will be uploaded to the digital system, while any subsequent correction or alteration will be made through an auditable digital trail.
Under the new SOPs, property owners will be given 15 days’ time in cases of illegal commercial use and five days in cases of illegal construction before enforcement action is taken.
The LDA administration has made it clear that negligence or failure to comply with the new SOPs will result in departmental action against the responsible officials.
On the directives of DG LDA Tahir Farooq, the Director Administration has formally issued the notification for implementation of the new enforcement SOPs.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Residents of several housing societies along and around Lahore’s Canal Road near Harbanspura are facing persistent traffic congestion because of a narrow road section and bridge, with the long-standing problem worsening during peak hours.
The affected stretch connects several residential colonies with Canal Road and has become one of the busiest routes in the area. During school and office hours, long queues of vehicles form on both sides of the canal, causing significant delays for residents as well as motorists travelling from other parts of the city.
Residents say the situation has deteriorated over the past decade despite repeated assurances by successive governments to improve the road infrastructure. Minor accidents or vehicle breakdowns can reportedly bring traffic to a complete standstill, adding to the difficulties faced by commuters.
An area resident, Mian Afzal, said it could sometimes take up to half an hour just to cross the narrow bridge, while any minor incident could cause traffic to remain stuck for considerably longer.
The problem is also linked to a stalled road development project. During a previous tenure, the PML-N government in Punjab had approved a plan to widen the Canal Road stretch and construct U-turns from the Dharampura Underpass to Jallo Mor. The project was intended to ease congestion and provide better connectivity to thousands of commuters.
The government had also constructed the Beijing Underpass to address traffic congestion at the Chaubacha railway crossings near the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club. Canal Road was eventually widened up to the Harbanspura police station.
However, following the 2018 elections and the formation of the PTI government in Punjab, the remaining project was shelved along with several other development initiatives of the previous administration.
Residents say their demands have remained unresolved since then, with the Harbanspura-to-Jallo Mor section continuing to create a major bottleneck, particularly for traffic approaching from the Mall Road side.
The return of the PML-N government to Punjab after the 2024 elections raised hopes that the stalled project would be revived. However, the government has cited financial constraints and said available funds are being allocated to other development priorities.
Residents, meanwhile, allege that the issue reflects administrative and political neglect. Daily commuters have questioned why resources are available for road projects in more affluent areas while infrastructure problems affecting densely populated housing societies remain unresolved.
The situation has also affected commercial activity along the route. Shopkeepers and small traders say customers are reluctant to stop in the area because of congestion, while delivery vehicles frequently face delays. Farhan Aziz, a local shopkeeper, said the continuing road problem was slowing commercial activity across the area.
The affected residential communities include the Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme, commonly known as Sahafi Colony, Hajvery Housing Scheme and Lahore Medical and Dental College Housing Scheme. With the area's population continuing to grow, residents and civil society activists say the existing bridge and road infrastructure has exceeded its capacity.
An official of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) told that a financial estimate for resolving the issue had been submitted to the relevant authorities several times. However, senior LDA officials had maintained that the project should be funded by the Punjab government.
The official said the estimate would again be submitted to the appropriate forum for approval, keeping in view the difficulties faced by residents and commuters for years.
Residents have urged the Punjab government to immediately revive and execute the stalled project, warning that further delay could further worsen traffic congestion, connectivity problems and commercial activity in the rapidly expanding housing communities along Canal Road.