Punjab Province

Bahawalpur : ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has formally launched the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” programme in Cholistan, initiating the distribution of state agricultural land among eligible families as part of a major effort to expand farming activity, create livelihood opportunities and bring underutilised land into productive use.
Under the programme, the provincial government has earmarked approximately 83,000 acres of agricultural land in Cholistan for distribution among eligible beneficiaries, according to the Bahawalpur commissioner.
More than 16,000 families are expected to benefit from the initiative, with each eligible household receiving a five-acre agricultural plot for cultivation.
The programme represents a significant land-based livelihood initiative in the Cholistan region, where access to cultivable land and financial resources remains an important factor in improving household incomes and strengthening the local agricultural economy.
At the formal launch ceremony, officials handed over allotment letters to 25 successful applicants, marking the beginning of the land distribution process.
According to the Cholistan Development Authority (CDA), the programme attracted considerable interest from local communities, receiving a total of 52,158 applications.
Following scrutiny and verification of applicants, 27,647 applications were approved as eligible, indicating that demand for agricultural land under the programme substantially exceeds the number of plots currently available for distribution.
In the first phase, the Punjab government plans to allocate agricultural land to 10,290 eligible Cholistan families. The remaining distribution is expected to proceed in accordance with the programme's implementation framework and availability of designated land.
Alongside the land allocation, the provincial government is introducing a substantial financial support package aimed at helping beneficiaries convert their allotted plots into productive farmland.
In collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture Department, the government will provide approximately Rs 4.25 billion in financial assistance under the scheme.
Each beneficiary will be entitled to receive Rs 50,000 per acre, which can be used for preparing the allotted land, initiating cultivation and meeting other essential farming expenses.
For a household receiving the standard five-acre allocation, the assistance could amount to Rs 250,000, providing initial capital to help beneficiaries begin agricultural operations.
The combination of land allocation and cultivation assistance is intended to ensure that beneficiaries are not merely provided with land but also have access to the financial resources required to make their holdings productive.
The initiative is expected to contribute to agricultural development in Cholistan while creating new income-generating opportunities for thousands of families dependent on farming and related rural economic activities.
With 83,000 acres earmarked for distribution, more than 16,000 prospective beneficiary families and billions of rupees allocated for agricultural support, the programme could also have wider implications for land utilisation, rural employment and agricultural production across the Cholistan region.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has approved major amendments to the regulatory framework governing private housing schemes across the province, introducing measures aimed at strengthening the approval, monitoring and regulatory process while tightening enforcement against violations. The revised framework also seeks to encourage the development of affordable housing for lower-income groups.
The reforms approved by the provincial cabinet cover changes to the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules 2021 as well as the affordable housing framework administered by the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA). The broader objective is to make the approval process for private housing projects simpler, more transparent and easier to monitor.
One of the most significant features of the revised framework is the introduction of a digital approval system for new housing schemes. Under the system, applications and approvals required from relevant government departments will be processed through a more coordinated and transparent mechanism.
The reforms also provide for the standardisation of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) required from various departments and agencies, including environmental authorities, the Irrigation Department, WASA, solid waste management bodies and agencies responsible for soil testing. The move is intended to reduce procedural differences between departments and minimise unnecessary delays in project approvals.
The revised rules also include a new category for affordable housing schemes targeting lower-income groups. The measure is designed to encourage private-sector developers to undertake residential projects offering comparatively lower-cost plots or housing units.
The government has also decided to strengthen implementation of a Housing Society Management System, which is expected to improve monitoring of approved schemes, their development progress and compliance with statutory obligations.
The reform package also addresses the procedure for the release of mortgaged plots. In private housing schemes, certain plots are often mortgaged with the relevant development authority as a guarantee for the completion of development works and compliance with legal requirements. The revised framework seeks to provide a clearer mechanism for the release of such plots once the required conditions are fulfilled.
Advertising and marketing of private housing schemes will also come under closer regulatory scrutiny. The amended framework seeks to strengthen oversight of advertisements and the sale of plots or housing units through media platforms in order to curb the promotion of unapproved projects and prevent developers from raising funds from the public without the necessary approvals.
Under the Punjab Development Authorities Private Housing Schemes Rules 2021, developers are already prohibited from advertising plots or housing units without approval from the relevant authority, while development agencies are empowered to take action against schemes that violate these restrictions.
The reforms also introduce a formal mechanism for the registration of property dealers. The objective is to bring individuals and businesses involved in the marketing and sale of plots and properties within a defined regulatory framework and reduce the scope for unauthorised marketing.
Similarly, the rules provide a procedure for the sale or transfer of designated public sites within housing schemes, with the aim of ensuring that land reserved for public facilities remains subject to effective regulatory oversight.
Greater emphasis has also been placed on post-approval monitoring of private housing schemes. The objective is to ensure that developers do not deviate from approved layout plans, infrastructure commitments, public facilities or other legal obligations after securing approval.
The government has also moved to strengthen the legal mechanism for strict action against illegal development and other violations. Developers and other responsible parties found breaching the rules may face stronger enforcement measures, including penalties and legal proceedings.
The reform framework also includes a formal procedure for the regularisation of certain existing or illegally developed housing schemes, allowing viable cases to be brought within the legal system after meeting prescribed requirements, while enforcement action may continue against schemes that fail to comply with regulatory conditions.
These changes carry particular significance in the context of the growing problem of illegal housing schemes across Punjab. Development authorities in several cities have long been taking action against projects that begin selling plots, advertising or undertaking development work without obtaining approval from the relevant authority.
PHATA’s affordable private housing framework also contains a number of measures relating to approvals and technical scrutiny. Under the existing system, project cases are examined by the relevant committee before being placed before the governing body, with mandatory documentation and technical requirements reviewed as part of the approval process. Issues such as the availability of clean water sources and wastewater management plans are also considered during scrutiny.
The existing affordable housing framework also provides for the allocation of specific residential areas and housing units for lower income groups, with separate arrangements intended to facilitate access to affordable residential options for eligible households.
The Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department will oversee implementation of the reforms, while the relevant development authorities in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and other jurisdictions will be responsible for enforcing the amended rules within their respective areas.
The government’s broader objective is to establish a regulatory system under which every stage of a private housing scheme, from initial approval to completion of development works, remains subject to effective oversight, while reducing the space available for illegal schemes and improving protection for property buyers and investors.
The practical impact of the amendments will now depend on implementation. If digital approvals, standardised NOCs, property dealer registration, tighter advertising controls and stronger post-approval enforcement are effectively applied, the reforms could mark a significant regulatory shift in Punjab’s private housing market.

Faisalabad : ReNews Pakistan
More than half of Faisalabad’s urban industrial units have been classified as posing a very high environmental risk, prompting the district administration to intensify inspections and initiate action against industries operating in or near residential neighbourhoods.
The findings emerged from a comprehensive multi-dimensional survey conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the government’s broader plan to identify environmentally hazardous industries and relocate high-risk units from densely populated areas to designated industrial zones.
According to the survey, major environmental and public safety risks associated with industrial activity in the city include emissions from boilers, untreated industrial wastewater, hazardous chemical use and the close proximity of factories to residential communities.
The report identified 782 industrial units operating across 105 union councils of Faisalabad, collectively employing approximately 43,612 workers, highlighting both the economic significance of the sector and the scale of the challenge facing authorities seeking to address environmental and land-use violations.
Of the industrial units surveyed, 568 are located within 0.5 kilometres of residential areas, while 441 units are situated inside or immediately adjacent to populated neighbourhoods, exposing nearby communities to potential air pollution, wastewater contamination and industrial safety hazards.
Regulatory compliance also emerged as a major concern. The survey found that 734 industrial units were operating without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the EPA, raising questions over environmental oversight and enforcement within the city's rapidly expanding industrial landscape.
Authorities also identified 70 industrial units operating without mandatory environmental approvals or chemical licences and in violation of applicable land-use regulations. The survey recommended that these units should not be regularised because of the potential environmental and public health risks associated with their operations.
Following the findings, the Industry Relocation Committee, chaired by Faisalabad Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, decided to begin enforcement proceedings against industrial units operating in residential areas where their activities could endanger workers and surrounding communities.
Joint inspection teams comprising officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Labour Department and Municipal Corporation have been constituted to inspect all 441 industrial units identified within urban residential areas.
The teams will examine whether the industries possess the required environmental approvals and labour registrations, whether their buildings have approved plans, and whether boilers and pressure vessels comply with prescribed capacity, operational and safety standards.
Initial notices will be issued to units where violations are identified, paving the way for further regulatory or enforcement action depending on the nature and severity of non-compliance.
Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh said industries operating without the necessary approvals would not be permitted to continue functioning within city limits. He stressed that protecting industrial workers and residents living around factories would remain a priority for the administration.
The crackdown forms part of a broader effort to reorganise Faisalabad’s industrial footprint by gradually shifting hazardous and incompatible industrial activities away from residential communities and into properly planned industrial zones.
The Industry Relocation Committee also reviewed progress on identifying suitable locations and facilitating the relocation of industries currently operating in residential areas.
The initiative could have significant implications for Faisalabad’s urban planning and real estate landscape. Moving industrial operations out of residential neighbourhoods would not only reduce environmental and safety risks but could also open affected areas for more compatible residential, commercial and mixed-use development, subject to applicable land-use regulations.
As one of Pakistan’s largest industrial centres, Faisalabad faces the challenge of balancing industrial growth and employment with environmental protection, public health and sustainable urban development. The latest survey provides authorities with a detailed framework for determining which industrial units can meet regulatory requirements and which may ultimately have to relocate outside densely populated parts of the city.