Punjab Province

Rawalpindi | ReNews Pakistan Government Graduate College Asghar Mall in Rawalpindi has been granted the status of National Heritage. The announcement was made by the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, during a ceremony held at the college. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the institution had been included in the National Heritage list in recognition of its historical importance, long standing educational services, and cultural role in the region. He described the college as a symbol of learning and character that reflects Pakistan’s cultural tradition. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said a formal ceremony would be held soon to officially confer the National Heritage honour on the college. He added that government representatives, educationists, and members of the college community would attend the event. In his address, the federal minister described the college as an institution closely linked with knowledge and cultural identity, and encouraged students by referring to them as the future of the nation. Officials said the National Heritage status would help preserve the historical identity of the college and ensure its protection in line with national heritage policies. Relevant authorities will oversee conservation efforts to safeguard the institution’s historic character.

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.