Punjab Province

Commissioner Gujranwala Division Syed Naveed Haider Shirazi has said that unapproved housing schemes and unregulated construction have severely disrupted urban planning and increased the risk of encroachments on government land. He directed all deputy commissioners in the division to ensure the immediate recovery of state land, regardless of the influence or identity of the individuals or groups involved.

List of illegal housing schemes prepared and action ordered

Additional Commissioner Coordination Muhammad Shafiq, Director General GDA Ghayas Apani, Deputy Director GDA and Wasa Engineer Khurram attended the meeting. Officials informed the commissioner that hundreds of housing schemes in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin are either unapproved or in serious violation of rules and regulations.

The commissioner instructed authorities to
* establish special teams at the tehsil level
* conduct field operations against land grabbers
* warn citizens to avoid investing in unapproved housing schemes
* make the approval process more transparent and conduct public awareness campaigns

Emergency inspection of sanitation, street lights and main roads

Acting on these directives, Deputy Commissioner Gujranwala and Chairman GWMC Naveed Ahmed carried out early morning inspections in various parts of the city. He reviewed sanitation, green belts, street lights and encroachments along Kashmir Road, Peoples Colony, GT Road and electric bus routes.

He directed officials to
* ensure timely removal of waste
* repair all non functional street lights without delay
* take action against encroachments without discrimination
* speed up the installation of new monuments and the restoration of green belts in major squares

Upgrading the electric bus service and passenger facilities

The deputy commissioner inspected the electric bus service and spoke to passengers about service quality and complaints. He said new and modern waiting areas were being developed at various points to improve passenger convenience.

Detailed inspection of Gujranwala Teaching Hospital

He later visited Gujranwala Teaching Hospital and inspected the emergency ward, out patient departments, dengue ward, gynaecology out patient department, pharmacy and token counter. The deputy commissioner reviewed overall cleanliness, staff attendance, availability of medicines and the facilities being provided to patients. He directed the Medical Superintendent, Dr Atiq Ahmed, to improve service delivery, reduce unnecessary crowding and ensure timely treatment for all patients.

Report by SyedShayan.com Real Estate Portal

The Punjab government has established a special cell in Rawalpindi under the Punjab Protection of Immovable Properties Ordinance to fast-track cases involving land grabbed through force, fraud or any unlawful means.

Following special instructions from the Chief Minister of Punjab, City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema, SSP Operations, the ADCR, divisional SPs and assistant commissioners convened a district-level meeting to review implementation of the ordinance.

Under the new framework, the entire process from filing an application to the final decision will be completed within ninety days. All cases will be handled jointly by the police and the district administration through the Dispute Resolution Committee.

The DRC will hear both parties and, in cases where a settlement is reached, forward its report to the tribunal. The tribunal, comprising former district or high court judges appointed for a three-year term, will issue legal orders based on the DRC’s findings.

If no settlement is reached, the tribunal will begin trial proceedings and may transfer the matter to a civil or sessions court. The DRC will also have the authority to seal a property where necessary and may recommend legal action in cases involving false or frivolous applications.

All applications will be received at the special cell set up in the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where applicants will be required to submit property documents, supporting evidence and details of the party in unlawful possession.

From our Bureau Office

Bahawalpur’s Commissioner Musarat Jabeen has directed civic agencies to accelerate work on major development schemes, stressing that timely completion and uncompromised quality are now top administrative priorities. Chairing a high-level review meeting, she examined the performance of development authorities and the status of several ongoing public projects across the city.

During the session, the Commissioner reviewed the upgradation of the Central Library, a project she described as pivotal to the city’s intellectual and cultural landscape. She urged officials to maintain continuity in construction activities, avoid any lapse in standards and ensure that all stages of the project are completed within the approved timeline. Officials also briefed her on the latest engineering designs, interior refurbishment plans, digital facilities and infrastructure improvements included in the scheme.

The meeting also considered development projects recently approved by the Punjab government, notably the establishment of a modern burn unit at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital. The new facility aims to provide advanced treatment for severe burn injuries and to enhance emergency medical services for millions of residents across South Punjab.

Commissioner Jabeen instructed departments to ensure transparent monitoring, timely utilisation of development funds and strict quality control so that public infrastructure progresses in line with the city’s expanding needs.

The meeting was attended by senior officers, engineers and planning officials, who shared detailed briefings on their respective areas of work.