Punjab Province

Khushab : ReNews Pakistan
Monitoring of ongoing urban infrastructure projects under the Punjab Development Programme has been intensified, with development schemes worth more than Rs12 billion currently underway across Khushab district.
Punjab Local Government Secretary Zaid Bin Maqsood visited Khushab and Jauharabad to review progress on the projects and assess the pace and quality of ongoing development work.
The Deputy Commissioner Khushab and officials from relevant departments were also present during the visit. The Local Government Secretary was given a detailed briefing on sewerage, drainage, disposal stations, underground water storage tanks and other urban infrastructure schemes being implemented in Khushab and Jauharabad.
Officials said development projects worth more than Rs12 billion are currently being executed in the district under the Punjab Development Programme. Desilting work on the Shewala Drain and its associated sub branch has already been completed, while work is continuing at other locations to improve the drainage system.
Both major underground water storage tanks in Jauharabad have also been completed. The Local Government Secretary directed officials to begin restoration of affected roads and parks immediately after completion of the related works so that inconvenience caused to residents by construction activity could be reduced.
Zaid Bin Maqsood also inspected ongoing work at the Shewala Drain and expressed satisfaction with the progress. He instructed the concerned officials to ensure compliance with approved construction standards and project timelines and to avoid unnecessary delays.
Work to improve drainage infrastructure in Khushab and Jauharabad has been underway for several months. According to a report by the Associated Press of Pakistan in April, a disposal project at Ghala Mandi in Jauharabad was inspected under the Punjab Development Programme, with officials directed to improve the local sewerage and drainage network.
Recent local reports have also indicated that new sewerage lines are being laid in different parts of Khushab and Jauharabad while work is continuing on several disposal facilities. Development work on the Shewala Drain is also among the district's major drainage improvement schemes.
The projects form part of the Punjab government's broader Punjab Development Programme, which includes extensive sewerage networks, new and upgraded disposal stations, underground water storage tanks and other urban infrastructure projects across dozens of cities.
By July, 82 underground water storage tanks had reportedly been completed across Punjab, while work on a number of drains had either been completed or reached its final stages. The projects are aimed at improving stormwater management, reducing the risk of urban flooding and increasing the capacity of municipal drainage systems.
Zaid Bin Maqsood said monitoring of Punjab Development Programme projects would continue on a regular basis and directed officials to strictly meet targets related to quality, pace of work and completion timelines.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) has issued a show cause notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Deputy Commissioner Lahore office over the alleged failure to provide property records sought by a woman seeking to establish inheritance rights for herself and her children.
Information Commissioner Bushra Saqib issued the notice to Waqas Anjum, PIO at the DC Lahore office, after the Commission found that the concerned public body had not adequately responded to the complainant or to repeated attempts by the Commission to obtain a proper response in the matter.
The case relates to an application filed under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, and raises broader questions about the practical difficulties citizens can face when attempting to obtain official land and property records from government departments.
The complaint was filed by Samina Zafar against the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Lahore. According to the Commission's proceedings, Zafar is seeking ownership documents relating to a house reportedly owned by her deceased husband.
She requires the documents to establish the ownership status of the property and claim the inheritance shares belonging to her and her children.
The Punjab Information Commission took up Complaint No. 8-1-2026-1 on August 10, 2026. However, no representative of the respondent public body appeared before the Commission during the proceedings.
According to the case record, Zafar submitted another application to the Commission on August 6, stating that she had repeatedly visited the office of the concerned patwari but had been unable to obtain the required assistance or property documents.
The complainant had provided the complete address of the house in her Right to Information application. However, in a letter dated February 24, 2026, the PIO of the DC Lahore office informed her that the relevant record could not be traced without additional technical details.
These included the Khasra number, Khatooni number, mutation number, date of registration or mutation and the name of the relevant tehsil.
The Commission questioned this position, observing that requiring an applicant to already possess detailed technical information could undermine the purpose of seeking assistance through the Right to Information mechanism.
It noted, in effect, that if the complainant already had access to all the required land-record particulars, there would be little reason for her to approach the authorities under the RTI law to obtain the information.
The matter is particularly significant because the requested documents are not being sought merely for general information but are linked to the determination of property ownership and inheritance rights. Access to such records can be essential for legal heirs attempting to establish their claims following the death of a property owner.
The issuance of the show-cause notice means the concerned official will now be required to explain the failure to adequately facilitate access to the requested information.
The case also highlights the importance of accessible land-record systems and effective implementation of Punjab's Right to Information law, particularly for citizens who may know the location and identity of a property but do not possess specialised revenue record details needed to trace official documents.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has proposed introducing monthly maintenance charges in its housing schemes, adopting a service fee model commonly used by private housing societies to finance security, sanitation and upkeep of residential areas.
Under the proposal, Avenue One and Jubilee Town have been identified for the initial pilot project, while LDA City is also being considered for inclusion in the new maintenance system.
The plan envisages separate monthly charges for residential and commercial properties. According to preliminary estimates, residential property owners could be charged between Rs2,500 and Rs3,000 per month, while commercial properties are expected to pay approximately twice the amount applicable to residential units.
Officials have initially estimated around 600 occupied residential houses across the three schemes under consideration. The proposed fee structure would create a regular source of funding for maintaining common facilities and delivering essential services within the housing schemes.
In return for the monthly charges, the LDA plans to provide a range of services, including security arrangements, cleanliness, garbage collection and the repair and maintenance of green belts.
The proposed system would represent a shift in the management model of LDA-developed housing schemes. While private housing societies commonly collect recurring maintenance or service charges from residents, the LDA is now considering a similar arrangement for schemes under its management.
The pilot project is expected to allow the authority to assess the financial and operational viability of the system before introducing it on a larger scale. Its performance could be evaluated on the basis of fee collection, service delivery and the overall improvement in maintenance standards.
If the pilot proves successful, the maintenance charge mechanism may subsequently be extended to other housing schemes administered by the LDA.
For residents and property owners, the proposal would introduce an additional recurring cost alongside existing property-related taxes, utility bills and other applicable government charges. However, the authority intends to link the new fee directly with services required for the routine upkeep of housing schemes.
The proposed commercial rate would be higher than the residential charge, with commercial property owners expected to pay twice the amount levied on houses. The final rates and implementation mechanism, however, remain subject to formal approval.
The proposal has not yet received final clearance. The LDA Governing Body will have the authority to approve the maintenance charges and determine whether the pilot project should proceed.
If approved and successfully implemented, the initiative could eventually establish a standardised maintenance-fee system across LDA housing schemes, bringing their management structure closer to the service models currently followed by private housing societies in Lahore.