Punjab Province

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercial fees, sealing 75 properties across different parts of the city.
Acting on the directions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, teams from the Town Planning Wing conducted operations in LDA controlled areas, including Faisal Town, Canal Road, Samanabad, Poonch Road and Azam Garden.
According to the LDA, 16 properties were sealed in Faisal Town for the illegal commercial use of residential premises, while another 49 properties were sealed on Canal Road, Samanabad and Poonch Road over unauthorised commercial activity and non-payment of commercial fees.
During a separate recovery operation in Azam Garden, LDA teams sealed 10 additional properties, taking the total number of sealed properties to 75.
Officials said the sealed properties included private schools, academies, beauty salons, cafes, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, clinics, pharmacies, shops, showrooms, offices and other commercial establishments.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad uz Zaman. LDA officials said notices had been issued to the owners of the properties regarding regulatory violations and payment of outstanding dues before enforcement action was taken.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings, unauthorised commercial use and commercial fee defaulters would continue across LDA controlled areas.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
Property registrations across Rawalpindi District have slowed significantly following the implementation of a mandatory physical property inspection requirement for all land transactions, according to property dealers and local reports. The new procedure, introduced as part of the land registration process, requires revenue officials to complete on site verification before any sale can be formally registered.
Under the revised rules, patwaris and girdawars must physically inspect each property, verify its boundaries, measure the land, record details of the adjoining road network and prepare the relevant land records before registration documents can be processed. Official notices displayed at registrar offices state that these inspections are compulsory for every property offered for sale.
The additional verification step has reportedly caused delays at registrar offices throughout the district, with property professionals saying the registration process has become considerably slower than before. According to the Property Dealers Union, transactions that were previously completed within approximately two days are now taking as long as two weeks because inspections by both the patwari and the girdawar must be completed before registration can proceed.
The union also argued that the new requirement has reduced the effectiveness of Punjab's recently introduced Green Property Certificate system, which was designed to simplify and accelerate property transactions through greater digitisation and transparency.
Property dealers further highlighted that internet connectivity issues continue to disrupt online registration services, forcing greater reliance on manual field inspections. They contend that the combination of technical challenges and mandatory physical verification has created additional procedural hurdles for buyers and sellers.
Industry representatives have expressed concern that the extended registration process could create more opportunities for administrative delays and discretionary practices, potentially affecting ordinary citizens, investors and overseas Pakistanis seeking to buy or transfer property in Rawalpindi.
Despite the criticism from stakeholders, the mandatory inspection requirement remains in force, with authorities requiring physical verification as part of efforts to ensure the accuracy of land records and property boundaries before ownership transfers are officially recorded.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Acting on the directions of Lahore Development Authority Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing carried out a major operation against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters across different parts of Lahore, sealing a total of 103 properties.
According to the LDA, the enforcement actions were conducted in Gulberg, New Garden Town, China Scheme, Shadman, Poonch Road, New Muslim Town and Allama Iqbal Town. The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner One Asad uz Zaman.
Officials said 29 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town over unauthorized commercial use. Another 59 properties were sealed in China Scheme, Shadman, Poonch Road and New Muslim Town for illegal commercial activity and nonpayment of commercial fees.
During a separate recovery operation in Allama Iqbal Town, LDA teams sealed 15 additional properties.
The sealed premises included private schools, colleges, academies, halls, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, clinics, hardware and electrical stores, pharmacies, shops, car showrooms, offices and other commercial establishments.
LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said indiscriminate action against unauthorized commercial use, unapproved business activities and commercial fee defaulters would continue. He added that strict enforcement of building and commercial regulations would be ensured across the city.