Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has launched a Green Railway Corridor project in Lahore under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for a greener and smog-free Punjab. Modelled on similar initiatives in developed countries, the project aims to transform abandoned, unused and garbage-strewn railway land into parks, gardens and public recreational spaces.
Under the four phase project, a total of 32 parks will be developed along railway tracks. During the first phase, around 20 acres of land between Shahdara and Raiwind have already been converted into landscaped green spaces, gardens, walking areas and recreational facilities.
Officials said 21 parks have also been completed on land adjoining the railway tracks. These parks are providing recreational facilities to local communities while contributing to environmental improvement and helping reduce air pollution.
The Punjab Green Railway Corridor will span a total length of 45 kilometres and is estimated to cost more than Rs 1.77 billion. The project has been divided into four packages and is being jointly implemented by the Punjab Horticulture Authority and Pakistan Railways.
According to the Punjab government, the initiative is an important step towards developing green spaces along railway tracks in line with international urban planning practices. It is intended to make Punjab greener and more attractive, improve the urban environment and provide safe, quality recreational facilities for children, women and the general public.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the relevant authorities to remove obstacles delaying the remaining phases and accelerating implementation. She has also instructed the departments concerned to ensure high construction standards and timely completion of the project.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Acting on the directions of Lahore Development Authority Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing launched a major operation against illegal commercial buildings, unauthorised land use conversion and commercial fee defaulters across the LDA controlled area, sealing a total of 124 properties and demolishing several unlawful structures.
According to the LDA, the operations were carried out in Jubilee Town, Gulberg, New Garden Town, Samanabad, Gujjarpura, New Muslim Town, Poonch Road and Sabzazar. In Jubilee Town, an unauthorised structure at Plot No. 539 A was demolished over illegal land use conversion.
An LDA spokesperson said 30 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town for illegal commercial use, while another 72 properties were sealed in Samanabad, Gujjarpura, New Muslim Town and along Poonch Road. During a separate recovery operation, 22 properties were also sealed in Sabzazar.
The sealed properties included private schools, wedding halls, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, bakeries, beauty salons, pharmacies, grocery stores, hardware shops, clinics, automobile workshops, retail shops, offices and other commercial establishments operating in violation of applicable regulations.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali.
LDA officials said indiscriminate action against illegal commercial activities, unauthorised construction and properties with unpaid commercial fees would continue to ensure planned and lawful urban development across Lahore.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has reaffirmed its commitment to compensating all landowners affected by the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, assuring that no eligible property owner will be deprived of compensation for land acquired for the strategically significant 38.5-kilometre transport corridor.
The assurance was conveyed by Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Engineer Qamarul Islam during a meeting with a delegation representing affected landowners. The delegation expressed concern over delays in the compensation process, stating that awards for several acquired land parcels have yet to be issued despite substantial progress on the project.
According to representatives of the landowners, the project has involved the acquisition of hundreds of kanals of land owned by nearly 200 individuals in each of seven long established settlements situated along the route. They said that while land acquisition has already taken place, compensation in certain areas remains unresolved, creating uncertainty for the affected families.
Responding to the concerns, Engineer Qamarul Islam assured the delegation that all legitimate claims would be honoured. He stated that the concerns raised by the landowners, along with the relevant documentation and details, have already been forwarded to the Punjab government and the Office of the Rawalpindi Commissioner for necessary action.
The affected landowners have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Rawalpindi commissioner to accelerate the compensation process so that all outstanding claims are settled before the formal inauguration of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which is expected on August 14.
Separately, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Raja Ilyas Kayani announced that a delegation representing the affected landowners will travel to Lahore to meet the Punjab chief secretary. The meeting is expected to focus on resolving the remaining compensation issues and ensuring timely payments to all eligible landowners.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road is considered one of Punjab's flagship infrastructure projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving regional connectivity and supporting urban and economic development around the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The road has already been linked with the motorway network to facilitate smoother traffic movement. However, construction of the Thalian Interchange, a key component of the project, is still under way and has yet to be completed.