Punjab Province

Faisalabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
Divisional Commissioner Mussarat Jabeen has directed all relevant government departments to expedite the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and complete outstanding legal requirements for private housing schemes awaiting approval from the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), aiming to accelerate development and improve public access to essential services.
The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the commissioner to review the approval process for private housing schemes and identify the key factors causing delays.
During the meeting, FDA Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhary informed participants that a number of housing schemes remain pending because concerned departments have not yet issued the required NOCs or completed other mandatory legal formalities.
Commissioner Jabeen instructed all institutions involved in the approval process to strengthen coordination and treat pending NOCs and related documentation as a priority. She stressed that unnecessary delays in approvals not only slow down development but also prevent residents from receiving essential civic amenities such as electricity and natural gas connections.
She further directed the Deputy Commissioner to regularly monitor the progress of housing schemes under FDA review and ensure that issues delaying approvals are resolved without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
In addition to speeding up approvals, the commissioner emphasized the importance of public safety in private housing developments. She ordered authorities to ensure that all sewerage manholes are fitted with protective covers and that additional safety measures are implemented wherever required to prevent accidents.
Warning against negligence, Jabeen said strict action would be taken against any individual or department found responsible for incidents resulting in loss of life or property due to inadequate safety arrangements.
The meeting reflects the administration's broader effort to streamline the approval process for private housing projects, improve inter-departmental coordination, and ensure that new housing developments comply with legal and safety standards while delivering timely services to residents.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has sealed 94 properties across different parts of the city during a major crackdown on illegal commercial activity and the non-payment of commercialization fees.
The operations were conducted by the LDA Town Planning Wing on the instructions of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq in areas falling under the authority’s jurisdiction.
According to the LDA, enforcement teams carried out operations on Defence Road, Gulberg, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Gulshan Ravi, Mustafa Town and Azam Garden against properties involved in unauthorized commercial use or defaulting on outstanding dues.
During the operation, 20 properties were sealed on Defence Road, while another 30 properties were closed in Gulberg and Faisal Town for illegal commercial use.
Similarly, 30 properties on Canal Road and in Gulshan Ravi were sealed over unauthorized commercial activity and the non-payment of commercialization fees. A further 14 properties were sealed in Mustafa Town and Azam Garden during a recovery operation.
The sealed properties included private schools, bakeries, beauty salons, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, pharmacies, grocery stores, electrical shops, clinics, automobile workshops, offices and other commercial establishments.
The operation was supervised by Chief Town Planner One Asad uz Zaman and Chief Town Planner Two Azhar Ali.
Director General LDA Tahir Farooq said action against illegal commercial buildings and properties defaulting on commercialization fees would continue without discrimination.
He directed the relevant officials to intensify enforcement against unauthorized construction and illegal commercial use to ensure compliance with urban planning regulations and the rule of law across the city.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has assigned administrative responsibilities at the district level to ensure swift and effective implementation of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “Model Village Programme.”
Under the plan, the District Officer for Infrastructure and Services has been appointed as the district coordinator in each district, while sub-engineers at the tehsil level will also be given additional responsibilities to strengthen project supervision.
The decision was taken during a meeting held via video link under the chairmanship of Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique. The meeting was attended by Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, Special Secretary Arshad Baig, Shahid Zaman Lak, and district officers for infrastructure and services from across the province.
Addressing the meeting, Zeeshan Rafique said that an effective monitoring mechanism at the district level would help ensure the timely completion of development projects while maintaining the required quality standards.
He said sub-engineers would also be assigned additional coordination duties at the tehsil level to improve oversight and speed up implementation.
The minister directed the Secretary of the Local Government Board to hold regular follow-up meetings with district officers and ensure continuous monitoring of contractors’ performance. He made it clear that no compromise would be allowed on either the quality or pace of any development scheme.
Zeeshan Rafique said that 485 villages across Punjab’s 10 divisions were being transformed into model villages under a master planning framework.
He also directed officials to avoid demolishing already constructed streets wherever possible and to ensure that all projects were completed within the approved timeline.