BAKU: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the provincial government is transforming 2,000 villages under the Model Village Program by equipping them with modern facilities and improving infrastructure across rural areas of Punjab.
Speaking at the World Urban Forum in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Maryam Nawaz highlighted the Punjab government’s development initiatives focused on urban planning, sanitation, tourism, and rural connectivity.
She said the government is working to improve roads and infrastructure networks to strengthen connectivity between rural and urban areas, adding that the Model Village Program aims to enhance the quality of life in villages through better civic amenities and public services.
“Under the Model Village Program, 2,000 villages in Punjab are being equipped with modern facilities,” she stated during her address.
Maryam Nawaz also spoke about the “Suthra Punjab” mega project, saying that a comprehensive cleanliness and sanitation system had been introduced across the province to improve environmental conditions and public health standards.
She further noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) had recognized Lahore as an important cultural city, adding that the Punjab government is paying special attention to promoting tourism and preserving cultural heritage.
The Punjab chief minister thanked the Azerbaijani leadership for their warm hospitality and praised the development achieved by Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
“I have brought a message of love from the leadership and people of Pakistan,” she said, expressing pleasure at participating in the World Urban Forum.
On the sidelines of the forum, Maryam Nawaz also held meetings with several international leaders, including Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
According to officials, the meetings were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, where the participants discussed sustainable, resilient, and people-centered urban development strategies.
The interactions focused on strengthening international cooperation in areas such as urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and public welfare initiatives.
Earlier during her visit to Baku, Maryam Nawaz visited the city’s historic district, where she participated in a traditional bread-making activity by baking bread in a tandoor, an interaction that received attention on social media and local media outlets.
The World Urban Forum is considered a major international platform where global leaders, policymakers, urban planners, and development experts discuss challenges and solutions related to sustainable cities, housing, infrastructure, and urban growth.
Punjab government officials say participation in such forums provides opportunities to learn from international experiences and promote investment and cooperation in development projects across the province.
