Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed that development projects in seven cities be completed by April, emphasizing fast-tracked progress and improved quality standards across urban and rural areas of the province.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, where officials reviewed progress on the Punjab Development Program, Lahore Development Program, Model Villages, Punjab Housing Authority (PHA) projects, clean water initiatives, and rural road schemes.
During the meeting, CM Maryam Nawaz instructed that construction work across cities and villages be accelerated. She directed that sewerage lines be laid in green belts rather than on roads, and manholes be installed alongside roads to minimize inconvenience to the public.
The Chief Minister also requested actionable plans for establishing PHA offices in the seven cities to ensure effective project implementation. She apologized to citizens for any inconvenience caused due to ongoing roadworks and assured that measures would be taken to reduce disruption.
To monitor progress, CM Maryam Nawaz ordered the creation of a live dashboard and announced that she would personally oversee the development programs.
In addition, the meeting approved the immediate release of the second installment of the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” housing project. Water filtration plants will be installed on a priority basis in areas suffering from poor water quality. Specific arrangements will ensure doorstep delivery of bottled water in districts including Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalpur.
On clean energy initiatives, the Chief Minister approved six biogas plants and greenlighted the launch of a Waste-to-Energy project in Lahore. She highlighted that Punjab is leading the country in renewable energy development, and the Waste-to-Energy project will provide affordable electricity for electric buses and Metro bus services.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that these initiatives are aimed at improving public services, ensuring sustainable urban and rural development, and enhancing quality of life for residents across Punjab.
The meeting marked a comprehensive effort by the provincial government to accelerate development projects, promote clean energy, and address basic service delivery challenges, while maintaining strict oversight and accountability.
