Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Director General Pakistan Airports Authority Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed visited Lahore Airport to review the ongoing expansion project, inspecting development work, construction progress and various phases of the scheme.
During the visit, the DG PAA met NESPAK Managing Director Kaukab Hussain Bhatti and Project Director Tauqeer Iqbal. A high level meeting was also held on the project, where officials briefed him on the current status of the Lahore Airport expansion project, technical matters, challenges and upcoming phases.
The meeting was informed that the Lahore Airport expansion project holds significant importance for improving passenger facilities, increasing airport capacity and upgrading infrastructure in line with international standards. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce passenger pressure at Lahore Airport, enhance operational capacity and improve aviation services.
Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed said the timely completion of the Lahore Airport expansion project was of national importance and all relevant institutions must perform their responsibilities in an effective and coordinated manner. He directed officials to further accelerate work on the project to ensure its completion within the stipulated timeframe.
Zeeshan Saeed also inspected different sections of the project and expressed satisfaction over the ongoing work. He urged NESPAK and other officials associated with the project to maintain quality, pace and transparency at all stages so that the project could be completed according to its set targets.
On the occasion, NESPAK Managing Director Kaukab Hussain Bhatti assured full cooperation for the timely completion of the Lahore Airport expansion project. He said the technical and administrative stages of the project were being advanced effectively.
At the conclusion of the meeting, officials of the Pakistan Airports Authority and NESPAK reaffirmed their commitment to completing the Lahore Airport expansion project at the earliest and described it as an important milestone for the country’s aviation sector, passenger facilitation and Lahore’s urban infrastructure.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
An intra court appeal has been filed in the Lahore High Court against the collection of capacity charges in electricity bills, arguing that consumers are being charged for electricity that was neither generated nor used.
In the appeal, the petitioner has made the federal government, NEPRA, PPIB and CPPA parties to the case. The petition states that the recovery of capacity charges through electricity bills is unconstitutional, illegal and against public interest, especially at a time when ordinary consumers are already burdened by expensive electricity, taxes and additional charges.
The petitioner has maintained that under the name of capacity charges, consumers are being forced to pay for electricity that was not actually consumed. According to the petition, these charges included in electricity tariffs are placing an unnecessary financial burden on consumers, making judicial review of the system essential.
The appeal has requested the Lahore High Court to set aside the single bench’s decision under which the earlier petition was dismissed. The petitioner has also urged the court to immediately stop the recovery of charges for electricity that was neither produced nor consumed.
The petition further seeks a constitutional and legal review of electricity tariffs, capacity charges and the related pricing mechanism to determine whether such charges can lawfully be recovered from consumers.
According to experts, capacity charges have become one of the most important and controversial issues in Pakistan’s energy sector. These charges are linked to payments made to power plants for their available generation capacity. However, consumers argue that the financial burden of these payments is being directly passed on to the public through electricity bills.
Following the filing of the appeal, the upcoming proceedings in the Lahore High Court have gained significance, as a possible court ruling could have major implications for electricity consumers, the energy sector and government policy.

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and district administrations have reviewed the progress of the Rawalpindi Master Plan and discussed key land management issues affecting urban development across the Rawalpindi Division, with authorities directing relevant departments to expedite implementation and improve inter agency coordination.
The review meeting was chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and Director General RDA, Engr. Aamer Khattak. It was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi and Attock, Assistant Commissioners from Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Hassan Abdal and Fateh Jang, along with senior officials of the Rawalpindi Development Authority.
During the meeting, participants received detailed briefings on land administration, property management and development-related matters in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Murree and other tehsils of the region. Officials presented updates on the status of public and private land holdings, ongoing development activities, future growth prospects and administrative challenges being faced in their respective jurisdictions.
A detailed presentation on the Rawalpindi Master Plan was delivered by the Chief Planner of RDA, who outlined the progress achieved so far, ongoing implementation efforts and key targets that remain to be completed. Following the briefing, Commissioner Aamer Khattak directed all concerned departments to accelerate work on the plan and ensure that development objectives are achieved within the prescribed timelines.
He emphasised that close coordination among district administrations, planning authorities and other government departments is essential for managing rapid urbanisation and ensuring orderly development throughout the region. He noted that effective planning and timely decision-making would help address infrastructure pressures, population growth and changing land-use demands.
The commissioner also highlighted the importance of safeguarding public land and taking effective measures against encroachments, stating that proper land management remains a critical component of sustainable urban development. He urged officials to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve enforcement to protect state-owned assets and maintain planned growth patterns.
Officials further underscored the need for a comprehensive and integrated planning framework that aligns land-use policies, infrastructure development and environmental considerations. They noted that the successful implementation of the Rawalpindi Master Plan would contribute to improved public services, environmental protection, economic growth and a better quality of life for residents across the division.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from participating departments to enhance collaboration, address outstanding administrative issues and support the timely execution of development initiatives envisioned under the Rawalpindi Master Plan.