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CategoriesEconomy News Real Estate Investment

SECP Proposes Raising Microfinance and Housing Loan Limits to Rs5 Million

ISLAMABAD: The SECP has proposed raising the maximum limit for microfinance and housing loans to Rs5 million, as part of amendments aimed at expanding access to finance.

The regulator said on Tuesday that it has issued the proposed amendments for consultation with stakeholders.

Under the proposals, the annual income threshold for borrowers eligible for microfinance loans would increase to Rs1.5 million from the current Rs1.2 million.

The amendments also revise the thresholds used to classify businesses. For small businesses, the maximum annual turnover limit has been proposed at Rs400 million, up from Rs150 million. For medium-sized businesses, the limit has been proposed at Rs2 billion, up from Rs800 million.

The SECP said the proposed SME thresholds are aligned with recent changes introduced by the State Bank of Pakistan, which revised its prudential regulations for housing finance.

The proposals are open for stakeholder feedback before any final decision. No implementation date was announced.

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CategoriesNews

Rawalpindi Tax Bills of Up to Rs300,000 for Land on 2–4 Marla Homes Exempt for 25 Years

RAWALPINDI: Owners of some of the city’s smallest homes are being served property tax notices worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, months after the provincial tax machinery failed to recover dues from bigger defaulters, The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department in the Rawalpindi Division has sent bills of Rs150,000 to Rs300,000 to houses of two to four marlas. Residents say the amounts are far beyond what such households can afford.

Punjab exempted privately owned houses of up to five marlas from property tax about 25 years ago. Many owners of small plots had never received a notice until now.

The department’s collection record in the division points to the reason. For the past two years, revenue from shopping malls, plazas, large houses and major housing societies has fallen short of targets by around 50 per cent. Residents allege the department is now trying to cover that gap by going after smaller properties.

Owners also report that non-payment has led to houses being sealed and, in some cases, owners being arrested. The report adds that in a few instances, officials recovered dues by taking away household belongings, which has caused heated exchanges between officials and residents.

The department had not issued a public response to these allegations at the time of reporting. It also remains unclear whether the exemption for homes under five marlas has been formally withdrawn.

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CategoriesNews Developments Property Laws Property Taxes Real Estate Real Estate Investment

Sindh Targets Five-Fold Jump in Property Tax Records to 2.15m Under $150m World Bank Plan

KARACHI: Sindh is preparing to widen its urban property tax records more than fivefold, from about 397,375 entries to roughly 2.15 million, through a World Bank-backed programme covering 20 local councils outside Karachi.

The Sindh Property Revenues Enhancement Program (SPREP) is valued at $150 million, comprising $110 million in results-based financing and $40 million in investment project financing. The Local Government Department will implement it to increase Urban Immovable Property Tax (UIPT) collection and improve municipal financial management.

According to the programme’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan, only about one-fifth of an estimated 2.1 million properties in the five targeted divisions are currently registered. Field teams will conduct a GIS-based, door-to-door survey of residential and commercial premises, geo-tagging each property into a new UIPT management information system. The plan stresses that the exercise is meant to build records, not issue tax demands.

The targeted councils are spread across Hyderabad (nine), Larkana (four), Sukkur (three), Mirpurkhas (two) and Shaheed Benazirabad (two), serving about 4.5 million residents. Wider institutional support will reach all 45 participating councils, including 25 in Karachi.

Beyond the survey, the programme will finance digitisation of Board of Revenue land records, a digital master plan linking land and tax systems, city surveys and a financial management information system for budgeting, accounting, payroll and expenditure.

To address privacy and accuracy concerns, the plan proposes advance notice of visits, identified enumerators and channels for residents to review and correct records. Monthly Town Citizen Committees and women-only consultations are planned to prevent exclusion of vulnerable groups.

The design draws on Karachi’s CLICK project, where the registered base reportedly rose from about 900,000 to 4.2 million properties after removing duplicates and out-of-mandate entries.

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CategoriesNews Property Laws Property Taxes Real Estate Real Estate Investment

FBR to Refund Section 7E Tax on Properties Above Rs25mn After Court Strikes Down Law

ISLAMABAD: The FBR has agreed to refund tax collected on deemed rental income from immovable properties under Section 7E of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, months after Pakistan’s FCC struck the provision down as unconstitutional.

The relief follows sustained advocacy by the Lahore Tax Bar Association’s Public Interest Litigation Committee, whose chairman, Waheed Shahzad Butt, had repeatedly petitioned the FBR since the FCC’s May 7, 2026 verdict voided Section 7E in its entirety, along with all notices issued under the clause since its introduction through the Finance Act 2022.

In a letter dated September 23 to all Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue across large taxpayer, corporate, and regional offices, the FBR directed that it must not turn down revision requests filed in response to the court order and must process any refunds arising from such revisions without delay.

The reversal affects a wide pool of taxpayers, as Section 7E applied a 5% deemed-income tax on the FBR-assessed market value of properties worth more than Rs25 million.

Butt welcomed the move as a significant win for taxpayers, noting it would spare both the exchequer and litigants from prolonged legal battles. However, he clarified that the FBR’s directive is limited strictly to Section 7E and does not affect a separate, unresolved dispute over Super Tax under Section 4C, where the FCC upheld the levy but excluded certain exempt capital gains, including inherited property and long-held real estate.

Pending a broader refund mechanism, the LTBA-PILC has proposed adjusting amounts collected under both Section 7E and Section 4C against taxpayers’ FY26 liabilities, urging the FBR to extend similar expedited treatment to pending Super Tax claims.

CategoriesNews Property Taxes

FBR Initiates Regular Business Consultations to Address Tax Issues and Enhance Facilitation

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated a structured engagement process with the business community to improve tax administration, address operational challenges, and promote a more transparent trade environment. In this regard, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial visited the Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) Lahore and met with a delegation from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Senior FBR officials and LCCI representatives attended the meeting, which focused on taxation matters, business facilitation, industrial concerns, and issues affecting the commercial sector.

The FBR Chairman emphasised the importance of regular communication with stakeholders and announced that similar meetings would be held monthly to ensure timely consideration of business-related concerns.

During the discussion, the LCCI delegation raised concerns about taxation procedures, digital invoicing, administrative responsiveness, industrial duties, and other operational matters. The delegation also appreciated FBR’s recent initiatives concerning areas such as real estate taxation, Super Tax, and advance tax measures.

The FBR Chairman said the department is working to resolve genuine taxpayer issues while focusing on expanding the country’s tax base and bringing eligible sectors into the formal tax system. He further directed relevant officials to prioritise resolving income tax refund matters and ensure timely responses to taxpayer concerns in accordance with legal procedures.

The initiative reflects FBR’s broader efforts to strengthen collaboration with businesses, improve compliance, and create a more efficient taxation framework. Regular dialogue between tax authorities and industry representatives is expected to support a stable business environment and enhance confidence among investors and commercial stakeholders.

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CategoriesNews Property Laws Real Estate

Islamabad Moves Towards Digital Transformation as CDA and MCI Integrate Services with PAK App

ISLAMABAD: The CDA and MCI have taken a major step toward building a digitally enabled capital by integrating key civic services into the PAK App. The initiative aims to improve public service delivery, increase transparency, and give citizens easier access to government services through digital platforms.

Under the new system, residents, businesses, and property owners can access multiple civic facilities online, reducing the need for in-person visits to government offices. The services being introduced include property tax access and payments, water bill management, parking permits, advertising permissions, open-space approvals, generator licences, and other municipal services.

The digital platform will allow users to submit applications, upload required documents, track application progress, make payments through digital channels, and register complaints electronically. The move is expected to streamline administrative procedures and create a more efficient, accountable service framework.

CDA and MCI stated that the initiative is part of their broader vision to develop a smart, modern, and citizen-focused Islamabad through technology-driven governance. The transition towards digital records and online processing is also expected to improve monitoring, reduce paperwork, and strengthen transparency across civic operations.

The development marks an important milestone in Islamabad’s digital transformation journey, supporting improved interaction between government institutions, citizens, and businesses while aligning the capital with modern urban management practices.

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CategoriesNews Property Taxes

Rawalpindi Excise Opens One-Window Centre to Speed Up Property Tax Services

RAWALPINDI: The Excise and Taxation Department Rawalpindi has launched a new One-Window Facilitation Centre to make tax-related services more accessible and efficient for citizens.

The facility will initially handle matters related to property tax, professional tax, and motor vehicle tax, allowing applicants to submit complaints and requests through a single point instead of visiting multiple departments.

Dedicated staff have been deployed at the reception area to receive applications and forward them to the relevant sections. Officials have been directed to resolve complaints and applications within two days, a move expected to reduce delays and repeated visits to the Excise office.

Director Excise and Taxation Rawalpindi Nauman Khalid will oversee the initiative and monitor the timely handling of public cases. The department says the system is intended to improve transparency, accountability and overall service delivery.

Plans are also in place to fully computerise the facilitation centre after the initial phase. The digital system is expected to improve record management, application tracking and monitoring of complaint resolution.

For property owners and businesses in Rawalpindi, the inclusion of property tax services is particularly significant, as it could simplify routine tax-related procedures and provide a more organised channel for resolving issues.

The initiative does not introduce any new property tax rates or changes in taxation policy. Instead, it focuses on improving the administrative process and making existing services more convenient for taxpayers.

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CategoriesNews Construction Developments Transport Urban Developments & Planning

Govt Sets December 15 Deadline for Six-Laning of M-4 Motorway Section

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has set December 15 as the deadline for completing the expansion of a key section of the M-4 Motorway. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has asked the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate work on its ongoing infrastructure projects.

Chairing a review meeting on development schemes in the NHA Central Region, the minister directed officials to widen the Pindi Bhattian–Faisalabad section of the motorway from four lanes to six within the stipulated timeframe.

Officials briefed the meeting on the progress of various motorway and national highway projects. The minister then instructed the authority to adhere strictly to its prescribed targets and to speed up work on schemes currently underway.

Reviewing other projects, Mr Khan assessed the status of the Lodhran–Multan Expressway. He asked the NHA to expedite preliminary work on the Lala Musa Bypass on the N-5 National Highway. He also said that rehabilitation work on the Baba Farid Bridge over the River Sutlej would begin shortly.

The meeting also discussed projects to connect the Layyah and Taunsa bridges with adjoining highways in South Punjab. Regarding the Phool Nagar Interchange on the N-5, the minister stressed that construction must be of high quality. He also asked that all new infrastructure projects incorporate modern requirements.

Outlining his expectations for future highways, the minister called for modern lighting, quality infrastructure and properly developed rest areas. He further directed that the Islamabad–Murree Expressway serve as a model for planning and delivering new projects.

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CategoriesNews

445 Beds, $17 Million: Sindh Cabinet Approves New Edhi Medical Tower in Karachi

KARACHI: Karachi’s National Institute of Child Health will gain a new 13-storey wing after the Sindh cabinet signed off on the $17 million Bilquis & Abdul Sattar Edhi Medical Tower, a joint venture with the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation that will add 445 beds to the facility.

Under the arrangement, the Edhi Foundation is putting in $10 million, and the provincial government will match it with a $7 million grant, split evenly between FY27 and FY28. Faisal Edhi will head a supervisory committee to track construction progress and ensure public funds are accounted for.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over the session, where ministers and senior officials worked through 23 agenda items touching agriculture, land records, healthcare, and provincial governance.

Wheat growers came away with one of the day’s bigger wins: a subsidy package worth close to Rs16 billion for those farming up to 25 acres. Every eligible grower qualifies for a flat DAP fertiliser subsidy, and anyone selling to the Food Department will now earn Rs2,000 per maund, double the previous rate.

The scheme is expected to reach roughly 550,000 farmers, building on a season in which more than 56,000 growers delivered over two million maunds from upward of 413,000 acres.

Disbursements will flow through Sindh Bank directly into Benazir Hari Card accounts once registrations are refreshed on an upgraded digital system. A separate call on the FY27 wheat support price has been put off pending further talks.

Elsewhere, the cabinet cleared a pilot for blockchain-backed land title transfers in three dehs, built with Sukkur IBA University and linked to FBR and NADRA databases, alongside a new provincial sports policy and a tax waiver worth over Rs555 million for a Karachi urology institute’s imported medical equipment.

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CategoriesNews Construction Developments Economy Property Real Estate Real Estate Investment Urban Developments & Planning

Punjab’s Digital Housing Scheme Bags UN Scroll of Honour, Ranks Among World’s Top Five

LAHORE: Punjab’s flagship housing initiative, ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar‘, has been named a recipient of the United Nations Scroll of Honour Award, placing it among the five most successful housing programmes worldwide this year.

UN-Habitat confirmed the honour following an extensive global review of housing initiatives, citing the programme’s role in extending safe, affordable shelter to low-income families. Only five schemes are chosen for the award internationally each year, making the recognition a notable achievement for the provincial government led by CM Punjab.

The award will be formally presented on October 5 during World Habitat Day, with the main ceremony taking place in Muscat, Oman. Related seminars and workshops on urban housing development are scheduled to run in the Omani capital from October 6 to 8.

Since its launch, the programme has disbursed roughly Rs260 billion in loans, enabling construction of more than 200,000 homes across two phases. The first phase accounted for over Rs196 billion in financing for 134,439 units, while the second added more than Rs62 billion for an additional 65,000 houses. Around 125,000 families have already moved into completed homes under the scheme.

Beyond the scale of financing, the programme is Pakistan’s first fully digital housing finance model, a feature officials say has helped streamline loan disbursement and construction tracking at scale.

The UN recognition adds to a string of accolades for the initiative, reinforcing its position as a reference model for low-cost housing delivery, both within Pakistan and among developing economies pursuing similar affordable-housing agendas.

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