Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has made significant progress on its Rs 61.12 billion “Model Villages Project”, with the tendering process now completed and 485 villages formally approved for inclusion in the major rural development programme.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has also directed the relevant departments to accelerate implementation and ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
According to government sources, Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has been assigned responsibility for overseeing the timely completion of the project. The chief minister has instructed authorities to complete development work in 40 selected villages on a priority basis during the first phase so that rural communities can begin benefiting from the initiative at the earliest.
Under the project, basic public facilities and rural infrastructure across Punjab will be upgraded in line with modern development standards. The planned works include the provision of clean drinking water, modern drainage systems, wastewater treatment plants, recreational parks for children, streetlights, and the construction and rehabilitation of streets and roads.
Officials said development contracts for 463 of the 485 villages have been successfully finalised. Fresh tenders will be issued for the remaining 22 villages to ensure that the contracts are awarded through a transparent and competitive process.
The Punjab government said the Model Villages Project is a key component of its broader rural development strategy. Around 3.4 million rural residents are expected to benefit from improved infrastructure, a healthier living environment and better access to modern public services.
The initiative is also expected to improve living standards, stimulate local economic activity, create employment opportunities and support sustainable development across rural Punjab.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has introduced a major reform in the province’s land administration system by granting formal legal status to the Land Record Extract for the first time.
Under a notification issued by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), the document will now be legally admissible in a range of land-related transactions and proceedings.
According to the notification, the Land Record Extract will be accepted as a valid legal document in property sales and purchases, mutations, registrations and other land-related matters. The move is expected to eliminate the longstanding ambiguity surrounding the legal status and official use of the document.
Previously, the absence of clearly defined legal recognition for the Land Record Extract often created difficulties for citizens dealing with government offices and revenue authorities. Following the latest decision, land transactions are expected to become more transparent, standardized and legally secure.
The Punjab Land Records Authority has directed all deputy commissioners, registrars, sub-registrars and other relevant institutions across the province to implement the decision without delay.
Officials said the reform would promote greater transparency and uniformity in the land record system while enabling citizens to access more efficient, reliable and user-friendly revenue services.

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan
The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended an earlier judicial order that allowed commercial development along the service road of the Rawalpindi Ring Road, temporarily halting a proposed project that included a petrol pump and other commercial facilities.
A division bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Sardar Akbar passed the interim order while hearing intra court appeals filed by the Punjab government, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), and the Ring Road project administration. The appeals challenge the decision of a single bench that had previously ruled in favor of the petitioner, Mazhar Rahim.
The court admitted the appeals for regular hearing and issued notices to the Commissioner Rawalpindi, the District Petrol Pump Committee, and the petitioner, directing all respondents to submit their replies by July 16.
The legal dispute concerns a commercial development proposal covering 102 kanals and 14 marlas of land located along the Rawalpindi Ring Road. Under the earlier approval granted by the Ring Road administration, the project was planned to include a petrol filling station, a mosque, landscaped green areas, internal service roads, and other supporting infrastructure.
According to court records, the petitioner had obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the RDA Commissioner after completing the required approval process. Following the issuance of the NOC, the petitioner reportedly deposited Rs. 178.413 million in official fees to secure the development rights.
However, the Punjab government and the concerned development authorities challenged the single bench's decision, arguing that the approval required further judicial scrutiny due to legal and administrative concerns surrounding commercial construction along the strategically important Ring Road corridor.
By suspending the earlier judgment, the division bench has effectively placed the commercial development on hold until the appeals are decided. The final outcome of the case could have significant implications for future commercial development, land-use planning, and investment policies along the Rawalpindi Ring Road, one of Punjab's largest ongoing infrastructure projects.
The matter will now proceed after the respondents submit their replies, with the next stage of proceedings scheduled following the July 16 deadline.