Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Punjab Provincial Minister for Health and Emergency Services Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed the implementation of the Building Safety Regulations 2022 across the province, ordering strict legal action against any violations. The directive aims to strengthen building safety standards, particularly in public, commercial, and high-occupancy structures. The minister issued the instructions during an official review of emergency preparedness and safety frameworks, emphasizing that non-compliance with approved building regulations poses serious risks to public life and property. He stressed that enforcement agencies must ensure uniform application of the regulations without discrimination. Under the Building Safety Regulations 2022, buildings are required to meet defined standards related to structural stability, fire safety systems, emergency exits, electrical safety, and accessibility for emergency response services. The regulations apply to both newly constructed buildings and existing structures, particularly hospitals, educational institutions, shopping plazas, residential high-rises, and industrial facilities. Khawaja Salman Rafique instructed relevant departments, including district administrations and emergency services, to conduct inspections and identify buildings that fail to meet safety requirements. He directed that violators be proceeded against strictly under the law, including penalties, sealing of unsafe premises where necessary, and mandatory corrective measures. The minister highlighted that enforcement of safety regulations is a preventive measure aimed at reducing casualties during fires, building collapses, and other emergencies. He noted that recent incidents in urban centers have underscored the need for proactive regulation rather than post-incident responses. He further emphasized coordination between emergency services, building control authorities, and local administrations to ensure that safety audits are conducted regularly and deficiencies are addressed promptly. The focus, he said, should remain on protecting human life while ensuring that buildings are used strictly in accordance with their approved purpose and design. The directive forms part of the Punjab government’s broader approach to improving urban safety, regulating land and building use, and strengthening emergency preparedness across cities and towns in the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has approved a new policy to bring unused state land into productive use through transparent auctions and long term leasing arrangements. The policy, cleared by the provincial cabinet, assigns implementation and oversight responsibility to the Board of Revenue Punjab. Officials said the framework is designed to prevent illegal occupation of public land, increase government revenue, and create structured opportunities for private investment while ensuring that ownership of state land remains with the government. Under the policy, idle government land will be offered on long term leases ranging from ten to twenty years. While leaseholders will be permitted to develop and utilise the land, legal ownership will continue to vest with the state. The government has described the approach as a balance between economic activity and public control over strategic land assets. The policy sets clear conditions on land use, limiting leases to productive and economic purposes. Priority sectors include industry, agriculture, livestock, and tourism. Lease rights will be allocated through open and transparent auctions, a move officials say is intended to improve investor confidence and reduce the risk of irregular allocations. According to the government, land records will be updated and verified under the supervision of the Board of Revenue, with all leases subject to legal scrutiny. The policy also includes provisions for reclaiming land in cases of illegal occupation or violations of lease conditions, using established legal procedures. Government sources said the initiative is expected to improve transparency in land management, support economic growth, and safeguard public interest, while ensuring that state land remains permanently under government ownership.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Punjab has reported the large scale recovery of illegally occupied state land following coordinated enforcement actions involving the National Accountability Bureau and the provincial administration. According to details shared during a high level review meeting in Lahore, a total of 15,667,577 kanals of state land have been recovered, mutated in favour of the government, or formally identified for resumption. The estimated financial value of this land stands at Rs 4.37 trillion. The meeting was jointly chaired by Deputy Chairman NAB Sohail Nasir and Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman. Progress on land retrieval operations was reviewed, along with future enforcement and governance measures. The briefing clarified that the recovered land includes both parcels cleared from illegal occupation and land restored through legal and administrative processes. Participants agreed that all retrieved land would be formally returned to government ownership and utilised strictly for public interest purposes in accordance with applicable policies. The meeting also stressed the continuation of legal action against unlawful occupation, sustained monitoring mechanisms, and further strengthening of transparent land record management systems. A province wide assessment of ongoing land recovery measures was presented, focusing on outcomes achieved so far and areas requiring continued enforcement. The discussion highlighted the importance of consistent coordination among accountability institutions, revenue authorities, and district administrations to address discrepancies between official land records and physical possession. The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the Board of Revenue, NAB prosecution and operations wings, provincial legal offices, and divisional administrations from multiple regions of Punjab. The review reaffirmed a collective commitment to maintaining oversight of state land and addressing unauthorised occupation through structured, lawful, and coordinated action.