- Punjab CM selects Lahore for first phase of citywide underground electricity initiative to eliminate hazards
- Emergency safety plan called to curb short circuits and fire risks, steering committee formed with LESCO, housing and administrative officials
LAHORE: The Punjab government has rolled out concrete measures to prevent short circuits and fatal accidents caused by hazardous overhead power cables, with Lahore selected for the first phase of a comprehensive underground cabling initiative.
Chairing a special meeting on the issue, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved a citywide plan to eliminate dangling and unsafe electricity wires, directing that a pilot project be completed in the inner city ahead of Basant to avert any untoward incidents during the festival.
The meeting reviewed proposals to divide Lahore into three zones for the phased execution of underground cabling. A principle decision was also taken to make underground electricity supply mandatory in all new housing schemes. The chief minister further instructed authorities to ensure alternative arrangements for internet and other affected services during the cabling process.
Seeking a permanent solution to recurring fires and loss of life caused by short circuits, CM Maryam Nawaz called for the formulation of an emergency safety plan to address electrical hazards across the province.
Briefing the meeting, LESCO officials informed that approximately 40,000 kilometres of electricity wires and 50,000 kilometres of internet cables are spread across Lahore.
Referring to recent tragedies, the chief minister said the government was determined to prevent incidents such as the Karachi Gul Plaza fire, stressing that public safety was a fundamental responsibility of the state. She noted that exposed power cables frequently become a cause of accidents during rainfall, posing serious risks to citizens.
“Dangling electricity wires are not only visually unpleasant but a constant threat to human lives,” she observed.
On the chief minister’s directions, a steering committee has been constituted to oversee the initiative. The committee comprises Provincial Minister Faisal Khokhar, representatives from LESCO, the housing and local government departments, and senior administrative officers.
CM reaffirms commitment to making education Punjab’s top priority
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s resolve to accord top priority to education, describing it as the cornerstone of peace, progress and sustainable development.
In her message on World Education Day, the chief minister said the importance of education for national development was universally acknowledged, adding that providing modern learning opportunities for youth remained a key priority of the Punjab government.
She said skilled, enlightened, resilient and educated youth were the true architects of a nation’s future. Highlighting key initiatives, CM Maryam Nawaz described the Honhaar Scholarship Programme as a ray of hope for students across Punjab, while noting that the CM Laptop Scheme was playing a vital role in facilitating access to modern knowledge.
The chief minister said new innovations were being introduced in schools, colleges and universities across the province, while curricula were being aligned with modern educational standards. She added that students were being introduced to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence from the early grades.
Referring to institutional reforms, she said the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence for Early Education had emerged as a model initiative. She further stated that IT and technical education had been aligned with market-based needs to ensure better employability and practical skills for students.
Reiterating her commitment, CM Maryam Nawaz said investing in education was an investment in the future of Punjab and Pakistan.
