Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab’s flagship housing initiative, Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, continues to make significant progress, with interest-free loans worth Rs188 billion disbursed so far, enabling the completion of more than 87,000 houses across the province.
The figures were shared during a review meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin, where officials presented an updated overview of the programme’s performance and impact. Director General of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA), Sikandar Zeeshan, briefed the minister on the ongoing implementation of the scheme.
According to the briefing, the initiative has benefited nearly 133,990 families to date, providing crucial financial support for house construction. In addition to the completed units, around 45,000 houses are currently under construction, reflecting the programme’s continued momentum. Authorities also revealed that plans are underway to extend interest-free loans to approximately 18,000 more applicants in the upcoming phase.
The programme has also demonstrated encouraging repayment trends, with beneficiaries collectively returning Rs9.67 billion in monthly instalments. Officials noted that this reflects improved financial discipline among recipients and strengthens the long term sustainability of the scheme.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Bilal Yasin reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring affordable housing for low-income segments of society.
He emphasized that access to dignified living conditions remains a top priority for the provincial administration.
Highlighting key policy directions, the minister said that, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, special focus is being placed on facilitating women, orphans, and other vulnerable groups under the scheme.
He further added that the introduction of phased loan disbursement linked with construction progress has enhanced transparency, accountability, and effective utilisation of funds positioning Apni Chhat Apna Ghar as one of Punjab’s most impactful public welfare programmes.

Lahore: ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court (LHC) extended a stay order on construction activities at Sheranwala Gate and Taxsali Gate in Lahore, while adjourning further proceedings in petitions related to environmental concerns until April 16.
During the hearing, the court emphasized the need to implement proposals presented by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to help reduce rising pollution levels in the city and improve environmental conditions.
The court also directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to appoint a dedicated tree officer to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of tree cutting across Lahore. It expressed concern over deforestation and stressed the importance of protecting the city’s green cover.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of the forest department, the court observed that it should not function jointly with the PHA. Instead, the PHA was advised to strengthen its own institutional capacity to more effectively address environmental challenges and reduce pollution.
In addition, the court restrained the PHA Gujranwala from using public parks and gardens for commercial purposes, underscoring the need to preserve public recreational spaces. It also stressed strict enforcement of market closing timings across the city.
After issuing these directions, the court adjourned the case proceedings until April 16.

Kasur : Sadaf Arshad District Coordinator | ReNews Pakistan
Key appointments and transfers have been made under the Government of Punjab’s Suthra Punjab Program. In this regard, Rizwan Ashraf has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) Kasur, while Shakeeb Sarwar has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) Dera Ghazi Khan.
These appointments aim to further improve the performance of the program and strengthen sanitation management across the respective districts. Officials stated that the newly appointed officers will take charge of their responsibilities and work towards enhancing cleanliness systems in a more efficient and organized manner.
The Suthra Punjab Program is a major initiative by the provincial government to improve sanitation standards and provide a clean and healthy environment for citizens. Administrative changes are being made periodically to ensure better performance and service delivery across Punjab.