LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced reducing power tariffs to cut electricity bills to provide relief to people.
She passed these directions while chairing the 26th meeting of the provincial cabinet on Tuesday in which 101 agenda points were taken into consideration. The chief minister said Punjab became the first province to voluntarily reduce electricity tariffs. She approved reducing the tariffs of Punjab’s power companies as well.
On the direction of the chief minister, the tariffs may be reduced by 30 to 40 per cent. The provincial cabinet approved a reduction in tariffs of the Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Private Limited and the Punjab Thermal Power Private Limited.
Maryam said people reposed trust in the leadership and government of PMLN. The provincial cabinet extended congratulations on winning the by-election in Sambrial. It was apprised that the victory gained with a huge majority in 80 per cent rural provincial constituencies was a manifestation of farmers’ confidence in the policies of the chief minister. The chief minister appreciated the efforts of Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafique and Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik. The CM congratulated the minister for Health, minister for Communications and relevant secretaries for ensuring improvements in the conditions of hospital and roads in Layyah. She directed taking steps for the establishment of a medical college in Layyah. The meeting approved a grant-in-aid of Rs 400 million for the Punjab Journalist Housing Foundation. The PJHF will pay the Ruda for the land of Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme Phase II.
She said a huge package was going to be given to wheat farmers. It was informed in the meeting that the payment of Rs 5,000 per acre subsidy has been completed for 514,000 wheat farmers in Punjab. The payment will be made after the verification process of another 500,000 wheat farmers is completed. Rs 63 billion were provided in the second phase through Kisan Card and farmers have purchased fertilizer worth Rs 18 billion.
The cabinet approved the Chief Minister Wheat Program 2025. The establishment of Punjab’s first “Air Punjab Private Limited Company” was approved. She set a target of starting Air Punjab within one year. She directed taking immediate steps for closing vaping centres in the province. She directed ensuring “safety gear” for labourers and workers and assigned the Labour Department a target of implementing safety SOPs for workers within a month.
The CM said labourers died by falling from five-storey buildings and the government could not sit mute on it. The cabinet approved ration cards for workers and miners registered with the Labour Department. The meeting approved the provision of electric buses in nine divisions of Punjab. The CM directed establishing charging stations in all major cities as soon as possible. The meeting approved the Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre Lahore Act 2025. She directed admitting all sick children to the autism center without any discrimination. The cabinet approved the transfer of land to establish Pakistan’s first Nawaz Sharif Medical City in Lahore. The medical district will have blood diseases, bone marrow and all other specialized centres on 5,000 kanals. Parks, hotels, food court, play area and urban forest will be established in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District. A globally-renowned institution has been contacted for the establishment of a children hospital in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District.
The chief minister set a target of providing essential facilities in all schools across Punjab. Classrooms, toilet blocks, furniture and laboratories will be built in every school with Rs 40 billion. The provincial cabinet approved the provision of 1,100 interest-free electric taxis in Lahore. It approved Punjab’s first child protection policy to determine the responsibilities of institutions to ensure the safety of children. Special grant-in-aid was approved for the heirs of those killed in the attack on the Attock District Courts. Eco-tourism projects were approved for Chhanga Manga Wildlife and Lal Sohanra National Parks.
The cabinet approved the construction, repair and upgradation of bus shelters in Lahore. Approval was also given to build depots for electric buses at Thokar Niaz Baig and Railway Station. The meeting approved Rs 100 billion Chief Minister Punjab Special Financing Facility to assist flour mills and food grains licence holders. The implementation of the Electronic Warehouse Reset System (EWR) was approved to facilitate farmers. The meeting approved the presentation of the annual report of the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (P-Tevta) for 2022-23 in the Punjab Assembly. The proposal to delegate the powers of sub-registrars to Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars was approved. The formation of agencies to be established under the Punjab Road Safety Authority Act 2023 was approved. The cabinet approved the Measurement Book in the Public Works Department. The Punjab Senior Citizens Welfare Bill 2025 was approved.
Amendments to the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 were approved for the provision of reflective number plates. Approval for issuance of Personalized Vanity Plates (PVP) in Punjab/Reserve Price and Transfer Fee was approved. The provincial cabinet approved the registration of electric vehicles in Punjab. Reward system for officers/officials and informants of the Excise Taxation and Narcotics Department was approved. Amendments to the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act, 2024 were approved. The meeting approved the Mines and Minerals Act, 2025, to harmonize the regulatory framework of the mineral resources sector. A service level agreement for technical assistance between the Punjab Information Technology Board and the Higher Education Department was approved. The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Services Bill, 2025 was approved. The dissolution of the Board of Management of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Lahore and the formation of an administration committee under the Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Act, 2003 were approved.
The cabinet approved a monitoring and evaluation allowance for the officers of the Directorate General Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning and Development Board, Lahore. The Punjab Horticulture Authority Act, 2024 was approved. Smog mitigation measures were approved through the development of green areas to make Lahore environmentally sustainable. The Legal Framework for the Management of Auqaf, Trust and Cooperative Societies Act, 2024 was approved.
A plan to solve the problems of waterlogging and land erosion in Rahim Yar Khan was approved. A scheme to convert the costs of Lakhodeer Landfill into carbon credits was approved. The cabinet approved the Punjab Public Awareness and Information Dissemination Act, 2025. The Punjab Film Censor Board was approved. Approval was given for the formation of a Board of Management for the Institute of Public Health, Lahore, under the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education.
Approval was given for the formation of Boards of Management for Gujranwala Medical College and Sahiwal Medical College by the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department. The meeting approved the provision of funds for the purchase of furniture and equipment in tertiary care hospitals in Punjab. Approval was given for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for data sharing between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and revenue authorities. Approval was given for the implementation of the Punjab Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and the Pension Fund Manager Agreement. Amendments to the Punjab Subsidiary Treasury Rules were approved. Approval was given for pension in case of re-appointment or employment after retirement. The cabinet approved the formation of a cabinet committee to review proposals under the Grant-in-Aid Policy 2025. Approval was given for the provision of retro-reflected number plates for installation on vehicles in Punjab.
A special allowance was approved for the employees of Punjab Environment Protection Authority. Approval was given for the inclusion of the post of secretary ombudsman Punjab in the First Schedule Part-I under the Punjab Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 2016. A supplementary grant was approved for the purchase of branded customized motorcycles for the field staff in the financial year 2024-25. A supplementary grant was approved for the payment of outstanding dues of Ramazan Bazaars 2022. Approval was given for the provision of funds for the payment of amount awarded as per court orders.
The meeting approved amendments to the Punjab Public Procurement Rules 2014. The Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP) being run with the support of the World Bank was approved. Renewal of a contract for 20 Komatsu bulldozers between the Agriculture Department and the Heavy Industries Taxila/Margalla Heavy Industries Limited approved.
An agreement between the Agriculture Department and the Green Corporate Initiatives (GCI) for the establishment of Model Agriculture Malls approved. The “Safe Jails Punjab” initiative was approved. The extension of tenure of Tauqeer Ahmed Nasir as chairman Punjab Film Censor Board was approved. Reconstitution of Board of Directors of Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company was approved. The appointment of a member in Punjab Labour Appellate Tribunal No I Lahore was approved. The construction and repair of a 3.3km road was approved for Village Satra, Tehsil Daska, District Sialkot. Approval was given to present the matter pertaining to the Standing Committee on Finance and Development of the Cabinet for approval of funds of Rs 1.7 billion for the establishment of four new Sahulat Bazaars and solarization of 32 Model Bazaars in Punjab through supplementary grants during the current financial year 2024-25. Approval was given to present the matter to the Standing Committee on Finance and Development of the Cabinet for approval of supplementary grant for the current financial year 2024-25 for the implementation of the “Sahulat on the Go” scheme at 15 hotspot locations of Lahore.
Restructuring of the Punjab Green Development Program was approved. Amendments to Punjab Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 2016 were approved. Approval was given to release funds through a technical supplementary grant of Rs 2.5 billion for the flagship project for the financial year 2024-25. Reorganization of City Traffic Police, Lahore, approved. Recruitment of 35 new posts in the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade was approved. The meeting approved relaxation of a ban on recruitment in the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA). Relaxation of a ban on recruitment for 16 vacant posts in the Lahore Walled City Authority was approved. A request for relaxation of a ban on recruitment on vacant posts in the Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab was approved. The post of statistical assistant in Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department was approved to be upgraded from BS-15 to BS-16.
The cabinet lifted a ban on recruitment for the University of Rasul in Mandi Bahauddin. The recruitment of 35 new posts in the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) was approved. The nomination of Presiding Officer of Punjab Labour Court No IX, Multan, was approved. The nomination of the admitting university for conducting MDCAT-2025 was approved. The nomination of secretary, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Department, as government nominee director in the Board of Directors of Punjab Skills Development Fund was approved.
The appointment of chairpersons, secretaries and controllers of Examination of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education was approved. Approval to ratify the proceedings of the 25th meeting of the provincial cabinet was approved. Approval for payment of medical expenses for various persons was given. Approval was given for funds for the treatment received by the wife of a retired government officer from a private hospital. An application for the treatment of cancer patient Hidayatullah, son of Saeeda Begum, a resident of Gilgit district, was approved. The meeting approved the payment of medical expenses of Uzma Rashid, deputy drug controller, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi.
Message: “Bicycle is the best vehicle for human health and environmental protection,” said Maryam Nawaz in her message on the World Bicycle Day.
She said: “There is the need to raise public awareness on the importance of adopting cycling culture in cities. If bicycles are still used as a means of transportation in Europe, why not here? By adopting bicycles, health and natural environment can be saved. Bicycles not only save fuel but also give protection against pollution and disease. School and college students should be encouraged to use bicycles. Students should be made aware of the benefits of using bicycles. Using bicycles should be preferred for a healthy lifestyle.”
She highlighted: “The UN has also acknowledged the importance of cycling since 2018 by declaring bicycles a cheap and environment friendly means of transportation. Cycling culture is being promoted for a healthy and safe environment.”
