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Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Google has commenced manufacturing Chromebooks in Haripur, marking a major boost for Pakistan's IT sector. The public-private project, a collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Production and NRTC, aims for an annual production of 600,000 units to provide affordable devices for students. Khawaja noted this reflects growing international confidence, promoting technology transfer and creating new jobs, with current employment at the facility standing around 600 people and future plans for export expansion.

CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa ordered the immediate issuance of plot possession in newly developed sectors to end allottee delays. Following a progress review, the CDA confirmed that road surfacing in I-12 will finish this month, while C-15 roads are due by March next year. To guarantee timely and quality work, the Chairman mandated field presence for officers and approved working groups to both accelerate development and upgrade older areas.

Malik Riaz-backed digital news platform Nukta laid off 37 Pakistani employees less than a year after its launch due to significant financial losses and a need to cut costs. The crisis directly stems from the severe liquidity crunch affecting the real estate tycoon sponsor, whose assets have been seized by the state to recover billions in fines, including a Rs 125 billion Supreme Court levy. Despite the company citing "restructuring" for the job cuts, Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar quickly intervened, announcing that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication would provide jobs to all 37 affected employees.

RAWALPINDI: The Kachehri Chowk area is fully closed for a major construction project (three flyovers and three underpasses) that began on November 3. The City Traffic Police (CTP) has implemented major diversions. Commuters from Rawat/Jhelum Road to Old Airport must use Bahria Phase 1. Other routes to Saddar and Murree Road are heavily altered, requiring traffic to navigate through areas like Morgah, New Lalazar, and Rawal Road. Motorists are urged to strictly follow the diversion plan.

Iesco has shocked tens of thousands of net metering users by demanding they replace their existing "green meters" with expensive Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices within three months, costing an estimated Rs52,000 per user. The directive, which appeared on recent bills, caused a consumer uproar and led to complaints on the Prime Minister's Portal. Iesco has since temporarily put the implementation on hold, acknowledging the confusion and the need to formulate a fair, relief-focused policy for solar consumers.

RAWALPINDI: Following instructions from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) is developing a new online portal for the public. This platform will allow citizens to verify the legal status of any housing scheme or individual plot—checking if it is approved, under process, or illegal—before making investments. NAB is integrating data from both the RDA and CDA to enhance transparency and protect consumers from real estate scams and unapproved developments.

LAHORE: Punjab has enacted the Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 to combat land grabbing. Penalties: Illegal property possession is now a criminal offense punishable by 5 to 10 years of imprisonment. Swift Justice: A new two-tier system is established:

The Pakistan real estate sector is moving towards greater professionalism. Eighteen, a luxury project, is leading this charge under new CEO Dr. Mohamed Mansour. Dr. Mansour's core mandate is to deliver the project with speed, precision, and quality, making construction excellence the absolute priority to reinforce customer trust. Key developments include a vital, dedicated slip road from the Srinagar Highway nearing approval. The project reflects strong investor confidence in Pakistan's growth, supported by the SIFC, and is exploring joint ventures with DHA. The mission: deliver faster and better to establish Eighteen as Pakistan's premier, reliable luxury community.

The Appellate Tribunal of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has delivered a landmark ruling that the outright sale of developed plots by real estate developers is not a taxable service for provincial sales tax.This decision overturns previous judgments by holding that the tax law's charging section, which applies only to the "lease, license or similar arrangements" of immovable property (where ownership is retained), prevails over the schedule listing the developers' service. Consequently, transactions involving the transfer of full ownership (sale) fall outside the scope of the provincial sales tax.