Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Lahore’s rapidly growing population has intensified pressure on the city’s infrastructure, housing planning and basic urban services. Experts say the pressure is not limited to one area, although its nature differs between the old city and Lahore’s expanding outskirts.
Residents of the old city are facing overcrowding, narrow streets and inadequate sewerage, water supply, parking and traffic management. Meanwhile, newly developed peripheral settlements are struggling with rapid land conversion, incomplete civic facilities and long commuting distances.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ 2023 census data, Lahore’s population has reached nearly 13 million. The district is also among Punjab’s leading destinations for migration from within the province and other parts of the country.
Urban planning experts say old Lahore is facing the most immediate and intense infrastructure pressure, as residential and commercial activity has become concentrated within limited space. In areas including the Walled City, Bhati Gate, Mochi Gate, Shah Alami, Akbari Mandi and adjoining localities, the subdivision of old houses, shared living by multiple families and increased commercial use have made water supply, drainage, sanitation and emergency access increasingly difficult.
On the other hand, the city’s outskirts are facing broader, long-term pressure. The expansion of new housing schemes and private residential projects along Lahore’s edges has rapidly converted agricultural land into built-up areas. Research studies indicate that while the spread of housing societies has expanded the city’s boundaries, the provision of roads, public transport, water, sewerage, schools, hospitals and employment centres has not kept pace.
The housing shortage has now taken a different form. The issue is no longer simply the limited number of homes; suitable housing is increasingly beyond the reach of low- and middle-income families. This has led to rising rents, overcrowding in small flats and homes, unplanned subdivision of old houses, the growth of informal settlements and housing located far from workplaces.
Pakistan’s overall housing shortfall is estimated at more than 10 million units, with urban, low-income and peri-urban households bearing the greatest impact.
Experts believe Lahore’s solution does not lie in new housing schemes alone. It also requires the rehabilitation of the old city, affordable housing, improved rental systems, vertical development, integrated public transport and advance planning for water, sewerage, parks, schools and healthcare facilities in new settlements.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab Revenue Authority has launched a major province wide crackdown against alleged irregularities, misappropriation and defaulters in the payment of services tax. During the operation, action has been taken against prominent food outlets, fast food chains and property developers in Lahore and other areas.
According to PRA officials, the financial records of 8 well known fast food chains, 12 food outlets and 4 property developers were examined in the initial phase. In Lahore, scrutiny of records belonging to 7 fast food chains, 2 desi food chains and one coffee shop revealed various discrepancies in tax returns, sales records and tax payments.
Officials said evidence has emerged that some businesses collected services tax from consumers but allegedly failed to deposit the full amount into the government treasury. Differences were also found between digital records, receipts and submitted tax returns, prompting detailed investigations.
PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra said the amount collected from the public in the name of services tax is a public trust and any misappropriation, forgery or manipulation of records will not be tolerated. He said businesses that collect tax but fail to transfer it to the government treasury will face strict legal action.
According to Moazzam Iqbal Sipra, heavy penalties may be imposed in cases involving false declarations in tax returns, tampering with digital records, use of fake or non integrated receipts and concealment of actual sales. He said the PRA is reviewing business activity through a modern digital monitoring system to improve transparency in the tax regime and increase revenue collection.
The PRA chairman also urged citizens to ensure they receive a proper PRA integrated receipt after making payments at any restaurant, food outlet, coffee shop or service provider. He said consumers’ insistence on receiving receipts can play an important role in curbing tax evasion and ensuring transparent revenue collection.
PRA officials said operations against tax defaulters and businesses involved in financial irregularities will be further intensified. The authority aims to ensure that taxes collected from the public are transferred to the government treasury on time, tax evasion is curbed and transparency is strengthened in the provincial revenue system.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
DHA management and the Transfer Branch have directed all members to strictly comply with rules and procedures related to property transfer, NDC, verification and site plan matters, making it clear that only one process can be carried out at a time on any plot or property.
In a statement issued by Chaudhry Tauqeer Asif, Director Information of the DHA Real Estate Agents Association, members were reminded that different processes cannot be run simultaneously and all cases must be completed according to the prescribed procedure.
According to the statement, if verification has been applied for a property, an NDC application cannot be submitted until the verification report is received. Similarly, if an NDC process is already under way, verification cannot be applied for at the same time.
DHA management further clarified that if a site plan has been applied for a plot, the site plan must first be received before the NDC process can be initiated.
The statement also said that once a normal NDC has been applied for, the case cannot be converted into the executive process. Members have therefore been advised to obtain a final decision from their clients regarding the normal or executive process before submitting an NDC application.
Chaudhry Tauqeer Asif urged all members to ensure that their documentation staff and relevant teams are fully briefed on these instructions so that unnecessary delays, objections and administrative complications can be avoided.
DHA management reiterated that only one process will be accepted at a time for any plot or property, and all applications will be dealt with in accordance with the prescribed rules.