Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that 150 housing societies in Islamabad are operating illegally and that action is underway against them as the government intensifies its efforts to reclaim encroached public land across the federal capital.

The minister stated that illegal occupation of government property would not be tolerated and that all land found under unauthorised occupation would be recovered.

Naqvi made the remarks while speaking to journalists on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during visits to the Kashmir Chowk Underpass construction project and other development sites in Islamabad.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also accompanied him during the inspections.

Addressing the issue of unauthorised housing developments, Naqvi said the authorities were taking action against approximately 150 housing societies identified as illegal.

He emphasised that enforcement measures should not be limited to those occupying government land but should also extend to officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) who had allegedly ignored or facilitated encroachments.

The interior minister said government land and residential properties under unauthorised occupation were being identified and that encroachments would be removed without discrimination.

During his visit to the Bara Kahu area, Naqvi directed the relevant authorities to reclaim 108 kanals of government land from illegal occupation.

He announced plans to establish three museums on the recovered property, including an Army Museum.

The proposed development forms part of wider plans to establish museums and cultural institutions in Islamabad aimed at preserving Pakistan's historical and national heritage.

Meanwhile, the minister inspected progress on the Kashmir Chowk Underpass, a major road infrastructure project intended to improve traffic movement at one of Islamabad's important intersections.

Naqvi said construction had been underway for 12 days and that teams were working around the clock to complete the project as quickly as possible.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

Pakistan's construction sector has recorded an upward revision in its annual growth estimate, with the National Accounts Committee (NAC) increasing the sector's growth rate for fiscal year 2025-26 to 6.30 percent from the previously estimated 5.73 percent.

The revised figures indicate stronger construction activity during the financial year, primarily supported by increased government expenditure on public-sector construction and infrastructure development projects.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the revised estimates were approved during the 118th meeting of the National Accounts Committee, held in Islamabad on October 19, 2026.

The committee reviewed and approved updated annual and quarterly national accounts estimates for the financial year ending June 2026.

The revision represents an increase of 0.57 percentage points in the construction sector's estimated annual growth rate, highlighting improved performance despite a modest downward adjustment in the country's overall economic growth.

The NAC revised Pakistan's GDP growth estimate for FY2025-26 downward to 3.65 percent from the earlier projection of 3.70 percent.

The overall industrial sector's annual growth estimate was also reduced to 3.34 percent from the previously reported 3.51 percent, reflecting uneven performance across different industries.

Despite these developments, construction remained among the industrial activities recording positive growth.

During the fourth quarter of FY2025 26, covering April to June 2026, construction expanded by 3.52 percent compared with the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

According to the revised national accounts, the improvement was supported by increased public-sector infrastructure spending and a 1.9 percent rise in cement production during the quarter.

In contrast, the broader industrial sector contracted by 4.70 percent during the same period, while overall GDP expanded by 2.00 percent.

The figures suggest that construction maintained positive momentum even as several other industrial activities experienced weaker performance.

Pakistan's construction industry plays a significant role in supporting economic activity across several interconnected sectors, including cement, steel, building materials, transportation and construction related services.

Higher spending on public infrastructure projects can support demand for construction materials and associated services while potentially generating employment opportunities.

The upward revision is also relevant to Pakistan's real estate and housing markets, although stronger construction output does not necessarily indicate an equivalent rise in residential plot prices or property resale values.

Public infrastructure development, private residential construction, housing society development and secondary-market property transactions represent different but interconnected segments of the broader construction and real estate economy.

Property values remain dependent on location, infrastructure availability, legal and regulatory conditions, development progress, market supply and prevailing buyer demand.

The latest national accounts therefore provide an indication of stronger overall construction activity during FY2025 26 rather than direct evidence of rising property prices across Pakistan.

While the revised construction growth estimate reflects the contribution of increased public sector expenditure, further market specific data would be required to assess how this improvement has affected private housing development, residential transactions and investment activity in individual property markets.

Dera Ghazi Khan | ReNews Pakistan

The federal government has commenced expansion work at Dera Ghazi Khan Airport to prepare the facility for international flight operations, with the Rs 5.5 billion project scheduled for completion by January 2028.

The development includes extending and widening the airport's runway, installing modern airfield lighting systems and upgrading passenger facilities as part of broader efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure and regional connectivity in South Punjab.

Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari inspected the ongoing expansion project on October 19, 2026, reviewing construction activities and progress on the runway extension.

During the visit, officials briefed the minister on the project's implementation, technical components and development schedule.

According to Leghari, practical work has begun following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement to upgrade Dera Ghazi Khan Airport for international operations. Civil aviation teams are engaged in different components of the development.

Under the proposed expansion, the airport's existing runway will be extended from approximately 1.9 kilometres to three kilometres, while its width will increase from 100 feet to 200 feet.

The project also includes modern lighting equipment to facilitate nighttime landings, alongside new passenger waiting lounges and other essential travel facilities.

The federal minister said the airport upgrade would improve air connectivity for residents of Dera Ghazi Khan and neighbouring districts, creating opportunities for commercial activity, investment and regional economic development.

He said improved aviation infrastructure could also enhance accessibility for businesses, investors and travellers across South Punjab.

Leghari explained that the airport expansion forms part of four major development initiatives announced by the prime minister for Dera Ghazi Khan.

The other projects include the establishment of a cancer hospital, development of a modern sewerage system designed to meet the area's requirements for the next 50 years, and the widening and rehabilitation of major road networks.

The minister said the sewerage project was intended to address long-term urban infrastructure requirements, while road improvements would help facilitate transportation and daily commuting.

The proposed cancer hospital is expected to expand access to specialised healthcare facilities for residents of Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas.

During the visit, Leghari also discussed measures being introduced in the electricity sector to improve distribution management and reduce power theft.

He said an Electronic Power Monitoring System (EPMS) was being implemented to identify high-loss areas and enable more targeted action against electricity theft, including restrictions at individual transformers rather than unnecessary interruptions across entire feeders.

While the airport expansion is intended to establish the infrastructure required for international aviation operations, the commencement of scheduled international flights will remain subject to technical and regulatory approvals, operational readiness and commercial arrangements by airlines.

The January 2028 target therefore represents the announced completion schedule for the expansion project, rather than a confirmed launch date for international passenger services.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt has said the bureau has initiated federal-level power-sector cases and is prepared to pursue alleged wrongdoing involving power plants.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Butt described the undertaking as substantial and said NAB was ready to confront powerful interests. He said preparatory work on the power-sector matters had been completed.

The chairman also indicated that NAB would not engage in further negotiations over tariffs. However, he did not publicly name the power plants concerned or disclose the specific allegations against them.

Separately, NAB’s third-quarter performance report, released on Monday, stated that assets worth Rs 9.18 trillion were recovered during July–September 2026. The bureau put the value of government assets recovered so far this year at Rs 14.6 trillion.

According to the report, cumulative recoveries since March 2023 reached Rs 26.1 trillion. These figures represent NAB’s reported valuation of recovered assets, including land.

Butt said the recoveries included 235,622 kanals of Pakistan Railways land valued at Rs 6.78 trillion. A further 866,299 acres belonging to various provincial departments were recovered, with an estimated value of Rs 2.395 trillion.

The chairman’s remarks on the power sector concerned investigations and preparations for enforcement action. Without the names of the plants or details of the allegations, the statement does not establish wrongdoing or liability on the part of any specific entity.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

Pakistan has invited American companies to explore investment opportunities in Balochistan’s minerals and mining sector. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan highlighted prospects across the province’s mineral, agricultural and industrial sectors during a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker.

The meeting, held in Islamabad on October 20, covered bilateral trade, investment and technical cooperation. The US delegation expressed interest in expanding investment and collaboration in Pakistan’s minerals sector.

The discussions also noted progress on bilateral trade matters, although some technical issues remained unresolved. Both sides reviewed opportunities to strengthen economic ties and investment cooperation.

Khan highlighted potential American investment in agriculture and industry, identifying modern farming, food processing and cold-chain infrastructure as important areas for collaboration.

The commerce minister presented Hub in Balochistan as a potential location for manufacturing, industrial investment and special economic zones. He outlined opportunities to support industrial activity in the province.

The two sides also discussed value-added agricultural products from Balochistan, particularly dates and olive oil. Investment opportunities in processing and storage facilities formed part of the discussions.

Developing processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure and storage capacity was identified as a way to help local producers reach international markets. The discussions considered how investment in these areas could benefit growers and businesses associated with Balochistan’s agricultural production.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has established a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to protect its information systems, detect digital threats and strengthen its ability to respond to potential cyberattacks.

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar inaugurated the centre on October 20. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, commissioners Imtiaz Haider, Muzaffar Ahmed Mirza and Zeeshan Khattak, and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

According to the SECP, the facility will provide round-the-clock monitoring of the commission’s networks, servers and cloud systems. It is designed to identify cybersecurity threats promptly and support timely responses.

The project was completed with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The commission said the centre was developed in line with international standards in collaboration with Karandaaz Pakistan, Inara Technologies and REWTERZ.

In a separate meeting, SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu briefed the NADRA chairman on the commission’s information technology reforms. The discussion also covered plans to modernise its IT infrastructure.

The briefing highlighted the use of artificial intelligence to improve the ease of doing business. These initiatives form part of the commission’s wider programme of technology reforms and digital infrastructure modernisation.

The SECP also plans to bring capital market institutions into a shared cybersecurity framework. The initiative is intended to improve coordination among institutions and strengthen the sector’s collective ability to respond to digital threats.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

A three day Saudi Pakistan Real Estate Exhibition is scheduled to open at Lake City in Lahore today, October 21, and run until October 23. According to Arab News, the event will present residential and investment property opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Pakistan Business Council, one of the organisers, said the exhibition would bring together stakeholders from both countries to explore investment prospects and business cooperation.

Visitors will have an opportunity to learn about Saudi property projects and engage directly with developers. The exhibition will feature residential properties alongside projects marketed for investment.

The event is intended to provide a platform for investors, developers and industry representatives to showcase projects and discuss potential partnerships between the two countries.

It comes amid efforts to expand Pakistan–Saudi economic ties, with real estate and property development emerging as potential areas for cross-border investment.

Saudi Arabia is expanding infrastructure and developing tourism, recreation and real estate under its Vision 2030 economic diversification programme. Against this backdrop, the exhibition will offer Pakistani businesses a platform to build connections within the Saudi property sector.

Arab News’ report, published on the morning of October 21, outlined the scheduled opening. It did not report any completed investment agreements or transactions resulting from the exhibition.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has intensified enforcement against restaurants, hotels and other businesses for failing to use the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (EIMS) and maintaining irregular digital transaction records.

According to a PRA spokesperson, notices were issued to 250 businesses not connected to EIMS during the past 24 hours. Thirty business operators were also fined over digital payment irregularities and violations of tax laws.

The enforcement operations took place in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Rawalpindi. The spokesperson said the authority also registered more than 50 new businesses during the same period.

The PRA directed businesses to maintain accurate sales records through EIMS and comply with applicable tax laws. It said action was being taken against businesses evading taxes or manipulating digital records, resulting in losses to the public exchequer.

The spokesperson urged consumers to verify their receipts through the PRA Facilitation App. Consumers can use the application to check receipts issued for their purchases or services.

Citizens were also advised to lodge complaints through social media platforms against businesses issuing unverified receipts or refusing to accept digital payments.

The spokesperson said effective use of EIMS was helping prevent potential financial irregularities and broaden Punjab’s tax net. The provincial government is continuing efforts to modernise tax administration and expand digital monitoring to improve transparency and compliance.