CM Maryam sets fast-track agenda for transport, water, and rural uplift

• Punjab CM chairs four-Hour long meeting to review performance of eight major departments
• Praises health teams for treating 1.15m flood victims and 174 snakebite cases across Punjab
• Orders swift completion of Cath Lab, SRT, and Lahore Development projects, saying 1,115 electric buses to be operational by December

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday chaired a marathon four-hour review meeting with eight major provincial departments, during which she praised the Health Department for its exemplary flood response, reviewed key infrastructure and development projects, and issued directives to accelerate electric bus operations, water supply initiatives, and welfare schemes for special persons and miners.

The Chief Minister lauded the Health Department for treating 1.15 million patients in flood-affected areas across the province, calling it a model of timely and coordinated public service. Officials briefed her that 174 people were bitten by snakes in flood-hit areas but, by the grace of Allah Almighty, all were saved through prompt administration of anti-snake venom in relief camps. She expressed gratitude for the successful prevention of casualties, crediting the department’s swift medical response.

وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی زیر صدارت 4 گھنٹے طویل جائزہ اجلاس۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/apwuOb08KO

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) October 4, 2025

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted Punjab’s achievement in preventive healthcare, noting that the province had “set a record in cervical cancer vaccination, taking the lead over other provinces,” after successfully vaccinating 6.5 million girls.

Directing that the Cath Lab project be completed without delay, she was informed that Community Health Inspectors from the Health and Population Departments had collected data from 32,000 households in the pilot phase. She instructed officials to extend outreach to homes of special persons, devise an effective mechanism for their welfare, and collaborate with relevant departments to compile comprehensive provincial data. She further directed the Special Education Department to formulate a joint plan for the education and well-being of special citizens.

Turning to transport reforms, Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to make 1,115 electric buses operational in Punjab by December, urging Deputy Commissioners to expedite the establishment of charging stations. She observed that a uniform design for electric bus stops had been finalized and that the buses had “set records of public popularity in a short period.”

The Punjab CM approved the launch schedule for the electro-bus program across various districts and ordered that work on the Sustainable Rapid Transit (SRT) project commence at the earliest.

Highlighting urban services expansion, she noted that WASA offices had been established in 19 cities within a few months, compared to only five previously, with a target of reaching 25 districts by December 31. She said over 5,000 water filtration plants were already functional, and called for a detailed timeline to complete the remaining projects.

The chief minister also instructed that bottled water be delivered to every household in remote areas to end the hardship of fetching clean water. She directed Housing Minister Bilal Yasin to personally inspect filtration facilities and include them in Deputy Commissioners’ KPIs, emphasizing that “real progress can only be assessed in the field, not from offices.”

Under the Punjab Development Program, she ordered completion of ongoing works in 15 cities before monsoon, along with strengthening Municipal Corporations’ capacity. Officials briefed her that the first phase of the Lahore Development Project would be completed by November 30, with 4,624 streets already constructed or renovated.

She instructed authorities to take strict action against vandalism of newly-built infrastructure and expressed satisfaction over the Parks and Horticulture Authority’s (PHA) performance in Lahore. The PHA, she was told, had planted 27,000 saplings through its home-visit initiative and launched an online bouquet delivery project to enhance public engagement. She further directed PHA to establish bamboo forests and expand its activities in other cities.

Officials also apprised her that the Model Village Project had been launched in 472 villages across Punjab, with a special focus on South Punjab — including 62 villages in Multan, 48 in Bahawalpur, and 38 in DG Khan — to provide parks, paved streets, covered drains, cemetery walls, and sanitation improvements.

She instructed officials to formally initiate the Placer Gold Project, ensuring that its profits directly benefit the people of Punjab. The meeting was informed that 11,000 miners had been issued Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Ration Cards, with a target of 25,000 by the end of this month.

Briefing the Chief Minister, authorities revealed that old pink salt contracts had been cancelled, leading to a fivefold increase in revenue through re-auction. The government has now decided to market Punjab’s pink salt in the United States, Europe, and the UAE to boost exports and provincial revenue.

On the mining and minerals front, officials reported that the initial study of the Chiniot Iron and Steel project had been completed, with testing expected to conclude within four months. Simultaneously, Section 144 has been imposed in Mianwali to curb placer gold theft, accompanied by coordinated enforcement raids.

CM Maryam Nawaz reiterated her government’s resolve to deliver clean water, modern transport, and welfare-focused development to every corner of Punjab. She underscored that her administration’s performance benchmarks were measured in outcomes, not announcements, and vowed to personally monitor progress on all ongoing projects.