ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the process of linking the e-stamp paper system in Islamabad, marking a significant step toward eliminating fraud, deception, and the creation of forged documents in land transactions.

With this system fully operational, the next phase will focus on issuing judicial e-stamp papers, further preventing tampering with land transfers and registry documents.

A recent meeting held at the CDA Headquarters, attended by Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon and ICT Director Rabia Aurangzeb, discussed the progress of the e-stamp system. The meeting was also joined virtually by the PLRA Director General and his team. It was revealed that the software for the e-stamp system has been developed, and formal testing has now begun.

The meeting also reviewed the digitisation efforts within ICT and CDA. Notably, the digitisation of 24 revenue estates has been completed, with plans to finalise the remaining 11 estates soon. Additionally, the scanning of all records in the CDA’s Estate Wing has been completed, and scanning of Building Control records is currently underway. Once completed, these records will be fully digitised.

To enhance accessibility, a mobile application has been developed to enable citizens to access their land records more easily. This initiative is expected to streamline transactions, property transfers, mutations, sales, and purchases, ensuring greater transparency in the system.

The introduction of e-stamp papers will significantly reduce instances of land fraud and unauthorised property transfers, bringing much-needed reform to Islamabad’s real estate sector.

Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued revised property valuation rates for 68 localities across the capital, significantly increasing taxable benchmarks for residential, commercial, and rural properties. The new rates take immediate effect and are aimed at aligning declared transaction values with prevailing market prices.

According to SRO 2392, FBR has set the valuation of residential and commercial superstructures at Rs 4,000 per square foot for buildings up to five years old and Rs 3,000 per square foot for older constructions. Rural property valuations will continue under the Islamabad District Collector’s mandate.

Several high-end sectors have seen substantial increases. E-7 has become the most expensive locality with residential plots now valued at Rs 600,000 per square yard. Sectors F-7 and F-6 are each valued at Rs 500,000 per square yard, while F-8 stands at Rs 450,000. Meanwhile, sectors F-10, F-11, and G-6 have been revised to Rs 350,000 per square yard.

Farmhouse valuations have also been updated sharply, with Chak Shahzad reaching Rs 11.2 million per kanal and Gulberg Green rising to Rs 17.55 million per kanal. Commercial plots show some of the steepest adjustments, with D-12 and E-11 now valued at Rs 1 million per square yard, and premium commercial areas in E-7 and F-7 at Rs 2.5 million per square yard.

FBR officials stated that the updated valuation tables are intended to enhance documentation, increase transparency, and ensure more accurate capital gains and withholding tax assessments in Islamabad’s property market.

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Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has officially commenced the long-awaited construction of the N-25 (Pakistan Expressway) in Balochistan, a landmark project aimed at improving connectivity and fostering economic growth in the region. Spanning 800 kilometres, the highway will connect major cities, including Karachi, Quetta, and Chaman, and is expected to significantly reduce travel time between key points in Balochistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who announced the project earlier this year, emphasised its strategic importance for Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area. In a recent meeting, Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan highlighted that the expressway would be a transformative step for the province’s socio-economic development, enhancing trade, transportation, and public convenience. Minister Khan also reviewed the progress of other infrastructure projects in Balochistan, including the M-8, which is vital for improving connectivity to the Gwadar Port.

The Karachi-Chaman National Highway, previously known as the “Khooni Road” due to frequent accidents, will be reconstructed in its entirety under the N-25 project. The reconstruction, which has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs300 billion to 350 billion, will reduce travel time from 18 hours to just six hours, vastly improving safety and efficiency along the route.

Additionally, work on the Lyari Expressway in Karachi is also progressing, with Minister Khan ordering the early completion of the remaining sections. This expressway will be developed as a model road, with advanced standards for cleanliness, landscaping, and beautification.

The N-25 expressway is expected to be a four-lane dual carriageway, with completion set for two years. The project is seen as a crucial lifeline for Balochistan’s prosperity and a catalyst for regional development.

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Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks an important milestone in the longstanding diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Indonesia, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relations.

A high-level delegation, including key ministers and senior officials accompany President Subianto. During his visit, he will engage in delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meet with President Asif Ali Zardari. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Forces will also call on the Indonesian president.

The discussions will focus on strengthening Pakistan-Indonesia relations across a range of sectors, including trade, investment, defence, health, information technology, climate, education, and culture. Additionally, the two sides will explore new avenues for regional and global cooperation.

The visit is significant as it is President Subianto’s first trip to Pakistan, following the last Indonesian presidential visit by Joko Widodo in 2018. Several memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the visit, further solidifying the collaboration between the two nations.

Pakistan and Indonesia enjoy close, cordial, and longstanding relations, underpinned by shared values and mutual interests. This visit is expected to enhance bilateral cooperation further and pave the way for deeper ties in various fields.

Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power, Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, has proposed the establishment of a Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) energy market, aimed at fostering closer energy ties between Pakistan and Central Asian countries.

The initiative, inspired by the European energy grid, seeks to enhance the region’s ability to fully harness its renewable and conventional energy resources.

Leghari made the proposal during a meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister, Ibrarv Taalaibek Omukeevich, in Islamabad. He highlighted the importance of cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of the CASA-1000 power supply project, which promises affordable electricity through seasonal availability. The project’s Pakistani segment is scheduled for completion by mid-2026.

The minister outlined a five-point framework for future energy cooperation, including joint working groups for hydropower projects, collaboration on CASA-1000, and exploring feasibility studies for a Kyrgyz-China transmission project that could involve northern Pakistan. Both sides agreed to increase high-level engagements and hold a joint expert meeting in Bishkek with participants from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and the World Bank.

In a separate engagement, Leghari met with a Canadian delegation led by High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan. The discussions focused on investment opportunities in Pakistan’s transmission sector, with a specific emphasis on network upgrades and modern technologies. Leghari also highlighted ongoing renewable energy projects, including a solar initiative in Gilgit-Baltistan, as key investment avenues.

Both sides agreed to enhance technical cooperation and share project details to promote Canadian investment in Pakistan’s growing energy sector.

Saleha Ali

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved expansive reforms under the ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme during a high-level review meeting aimed at modernizing the province’s sanitation infrastructure.

The plan includes introducing electric sanitation vehicles, launching a Waste-to-Value initiative, integrating digital transparency systems, and enforcing strict penalties to curb littering. Authorities were directed to roll out the Waste-to-Value implementation plan by mid-January, with officials noting that legal action against littering will follow a 15-day monitoring period.

In a separate development, President PML-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired a special meeting that approved the Gujranwala Mass Transit Project. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif attended the session.

Nawaz Sharif termed the project a long-overdue right of the people of Gujranwala and expressed satisfaction over the Punjab government’s ongoing development initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has formed a 15-member steering committee to eradicate forced child labour across the province. Chaired by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, with former MNA Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha as Co-Chairman, the committee includes provincial ministers, departmental secretaries, Chairman PITB and DIG Police.

It will map sectors where forced child labour exists, gather data from key industries, and establish an AI- and GIS-enabled central data bank. The committee will also propose alternatives for affected children and develop short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. Punjab’s comprehensive measures are expected to significantly enhance its global ranking in child protection.

Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched an extensive rehabilitation and upgradation project aimed at improving the city’s infrastructure, with work already underway on road recarpeting, lane markings, and the restoration of zebra crossings.

The project, which was outlined in a recent meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, focuses on key areas of Islamabad, including commercial zones and busy highways. Machinery Pool Organisation will begin recarpeting roads in high-traffic areas, such as Blue Area, F-6 Super Markaz, and F-7 Jinnah Super Markaz. In addition, the first phase will see the upgradation of streets in I-14 and the recarpeting of roads in the D-12 Markaz and E-12 sectors.

Restoration work on zebra crossings, particularly near hospitals, educational institutions, and major highways, has already started. The project also aims to improve safety with the installation of new streetlights, the repair of existing poles, and the installation of signage boards and speed breakers for better public guidance.

The CDA plans to address the city’s drainage and sewage systems as part of the infrastructure overhaul, covering all service manholes and improving stormwater management.

This ambitious project is expected to enhance the overall road safety and quality of life for Islamabad’s residents, ensuring smoother traffic flow and safer pedestrian crossings across key areas of the capital.

Saleha Ali

LAHORE: The American business magazine Forbes has praised the Punjab government’s “Suthra Punjab” initiative, recognizing it as the world’s largest integrated waste management system. The report highlights that the government delivered a province-wide solution to long-standing waste challenges within just eight months.

According to Forbes, the Suthra Punjab program has transformed urban cleanliness across the province, with 50,000 tons of waste collected daily. The initiative has significantly reduced pollution levels, revitalized public spaces, and introduced regular waste collection services to millions of residents, many receiving such services for the first time.

The program has also generated over 100,000 jobs, contributing to both environmental improvement and economic uplift. Its international relevance was underscored at COP30, where it was presented as a model of “Integrated Waste and Climate Action,” offering a benchmark for other countries seeking sustainable, scalable waste management solutions.

Forbes notes that the success of Suthra Punjab is rooted in an innovative three-tier financing framework that blends public and private funding. The model includes modest user fees to promote community ownership, government seed grants for essential services such as street sweeping, and revenue streams unlocked through carbon credits and energy sales from waste-to-energy projects. All financial flows are routed through an escrow account managed by the waste authority to ensure full transparency.

Positioned as a learning opportunity for policymakers worldwide, the Suthra Punjab initiative demonstrates how coordinated financing, strategic planning, and community engagement can drive rapid environmental transformation.

Saleha Ali

ISLAMABAD: Turkiye is set to become a major partner in Pakistan’s energy and mineral sectors as both countries prepare to sign multibillion-dollar agreements this week. A high-level Turkish delegation, led by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday to formalise collaborations in offshore exploration and mineral development.

Officials confirmed that Pakistani companies and the Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) are poised to sign a commercial agreement for exploration activities in the Eastern Offshore Block-C. The Economic Coordination Committee has already approved the transfer of operatorship to TPOC, granting the Turkish firm a 34% working interest, while OGDC and Mari Energies will hold 26% and 20% respectively. Exploration activities are expected to begin next year.

Sources revealed that the Turkish delegation had previously visited Pakistan to solidify a mineral sector deal, also expected to be signed during this visit. The Turkish firm is seeking a mining lease within Balochistan’s expanding copper-gold belt, where the Reko Diq project is situated. With accelerated development at Reko Diq drawing renewed global interest, Turkiye’s engagement highlights growing confidence in Pakistan’s mining landscape.

Pakistan’s offshore exploration efforts have undergone several shifts in recent years. A joint venture involving Italy’s Eni, US-based ExxonMobil, OGDC, and PPL during a previous administration was unable to deliver successful results. Following PPL’s inability to initiate work on Block-C, TPOC has now been selected as the new operator, tasked with leading upcoming offshore activities.

Industry experts note that OGDC continues to expand domestic exploration using modern technologies, while Pakistani companies are increasingly extending their footprint overseas, including offshore ventures in the United Arab Emirates. Collaborations with Turkish Petroleum are expected to further elevate Pakistan’s energy-sector visibility on the global stage.

Ahead of the delegation’s arrival, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting on Monday with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu to finalise arrangements. Secretary Petroleum Momin Agha and OGDC Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak were also present.

The Turkish ambassador noted that a leading mineral-sector company from Turkiye would be part of the delegation, reflecting Ankara’s strong interest in expanding mineral development partnerships with Pakistan. Malik added that Pakistan’s key exploration firms, OGDC, PPL, and Mari Energies, have aligned with Turkish Petroleum, creating new opportunities for joint ventures and expanding bilateral cooperation.

Anns Ahmed

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