Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has introduced a comprehensive plan for the upgradation of Pine Avenue, one of the city’s rapidly developing commercial and business corridors, with the proposed construction of an underpass at Shino Baba Chowk as its central component.
According to the LDA, the authority has forwarded the project to the Punjab government for approval under the Annual Development Programme.
The proposed underpass will be constructed at the junction of Pine Avenue and New Defence Road, while the existing roundabout at Shino Baba Chowk will be removed.
The project is aimed at improving traffic flow on this busy road and reducing vehicular pressure at the important intersection, which connects several residential and commercial areas.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore High Court has issued strong remarks over the prolonged blocking of citizens’ properties, observing that citizens’ properties cannot be kept blocked for years. The court directed the Lahore Development Authority authorities to complete the relevant proceedings within 3 months.
Justice Masood Abid Naqvi of the Lahore High Court heard the case. During the hearing, the court noted that the matter had been pending since 2014-15 and that the affected party could not be forced to wait any longer. The court observed that keeping a citizen’s property blocked for an indefinite period was not appropriate and that the relevant institutions must decide the matter within the timeframe prescribed by law.
During the proceedings, the court asked the LDA how much time was required to complete the land acquisition process. The LDA representative informed the court that if the affected party agreed to accept an alternative plot, the process could be completed within one month. However, if the decision of the ADCR was set aside, the acquisition process would require another six months.
The court, while responding to the LDA’s position, observed that the affected party was not interested in receiving an alternative plot and instead wanted financial compensation in accordance with the law. Therefore, the court remarked that a further six-month extension could not be granted. The court made it clear that since the matter had already remained pending for several years, any further delay would be against the rights of the affected citizen.
During the hearing, ADCR Karim Dad Chughtai assured the court that the valuation of the land would be completed within one month. The court, however, directed that the determination of the land value be completed within 15 days so that the matter of payment of compensation to the affected party could be taken forward in accordance with the law.
The court ordered the LDA authorities to complete the proceedings within 3 months and sought detailed arguments on legal points at the next hearing.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has claimed that, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Kisan Card initiative is rapidly providing farmers across the province with financial independence, easy agricultural credit and access to modern farming facilities. The programme is helping farmers reduce their dependence on the traditional middleman system and enabling them to obtain agricultural inputs on time for their crops.
According to official figures, Kisan Cards have been issued in record numbers across Punjab for the first time, with more than 832,000 farmers benefiting from the facility so far. Through the Kisan Card, farmers have used loans worth Rs 2.54 billion, while during the wheat season they purchased agricultural inputs worth more than Rs100 billion.
According to the Agriculture Department, Rs67 billion was recoverable from 538,000 farmers under the Kisan Card programme. Of this amount, farmers repaid Rs57 billion in installments on time, setting what officials described as an impressive example of financial responsibility. Authorities said the recovery rate stood at 86 percent, calling it an important indicator of the success of the Kisan Card programme and the trust shown by farmers.
The scheme has also provided large-scale financial support for the Kharif crop. Official data shows that Rs 90 billion has been provided to farmers for agricultural inputs during the Kharif season, while 300,000 farmers have obtained inputs worth Rs 30 billion through the Kisan Card. The facility aims to ensure the timely availability of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other essential agricultural inputs in order to improve productivity and ease financial pressure on farmers.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the Kisan Card is changing the destiny of Punjab’s farmers. She said farmers in Punjab would no longer remain indebted to middlemen and would be able to live with dignity. The chief minister said it was her dream to see Punjab’s farmers on the path to financial independence and prosperity.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif further said that farmers had set an excellent example by repaying agricultural loans on time. She said the Punjab government is pursuing its mission to strengthen farmers through innovation, transparency and farmer friendly policies in the agriculture sector.