Laws & Taxes

Pakistan has simplified home loans under the Apna Ghar Programme by reducing mandatory property documents to five, aiming to speed up approvals and make home construction financing easier for citizens.

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has demolished illegal structures in six housing schemes along Sundar-Raiwind Road and Multan Road. The crackdown highlights the importance of verifying housing scheme approvals before investing in property to avoid potential financial and legal risks.

The government has approved an 11% additional customs duty on 13 more automobile parts to protect local manufacturers, promote domestic production, reduce imports and support employment under the revised SRO 693(I)/2006.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s economic stabilization, improved foreign exchange reserves, capital market strategy and ongoing reforms at the Citi Macro Forum, expressing optimism about economic growth reaching 4% or higher this fiscal year.

A land dispute between the CDA and HEC has raised concerns over two planned universities in Islamabad after 250 acres purchased for educational purposes reportedly became part of the Margalla Enclave housing project. The CDA's proposed 25-acre alternative has sparked objections from HEC officials.

The Islamabad High Court has sought responses from the federal government and CDA over the proposed cricket stadium project in Sector D-12, amid concerns about its environmental impact, wildlife habitats and the planned use of approximately 175 acres of land.

Punjab has approved the Rs43.08 billion PULSE project to modernise land records, digitise property documents and improve ownership verification. The initiative aims to enhance transparency, simplify property transactions and strengthen land management across the province.

The FIA has registered a case against seven CDA officials over alleged fake allotments of 10 residential plots in Islamabad’s Sector I-12, with investigators examining suspected document fraud and previous land compensation claims.

Google has restricted public access to its advanced Gemini 4 Argon AI model, allowing only vetted cybersecurity experts to test it amid concerns about potential misuse, cyberattacks and data security risks.