LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, approved a Rs100 billion grant for the Pakistan Army to support post-flood infrastructure restoration and enhance security preparedness.
In a meeting with a 171-point agenda, the cabinet lauded Punjab’s largest-ever rescue and relief operation and finalised a comprehensive compensation package for flood-affected families. Payments will begin on October 17.
Families of those who lost their lives will receive Rs1 million, while the permanently disabled will get Rs500,000, and the injured Rs300,000. For housing damages, Rs1 million will be paid for fully collapsed concrete houses and Rs300,000 for partially damaged ones. Farmers facing 25pc crop loss will get Rs20,000 per acre, and Abiana and agricultural income tax have been waived in 2,855 villages.
The CM also announced a Rs15,000 monthly salary increase for Civil Defence volunteers in recognition of their services. She praised ministers, district administrations, police, Rescue 1122, PDMA, and civil defence teams for their commitment.
Maryam reaffirmed Punjab’s solidarity with all provinces, stressing that “every victim will receive due relief” and that illegal construction in riverbeds will not be tolerated. According to a briefing by the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), floods in 2025 affected 27 districts, 4,678 villages, and 2,010 acres of crops, impacting 4.7 million people. Rescue teams saved 2.6 million individuals and over 2.1 million livestock, while 417 relief camps were established.
The cabinet rejected the Constitutional Bill 2025 and took several key decisions, including a Rs2 per unit reduction in solar power tariff, 15pc Rent-a-Car tax rate, and $10,000 MBBS fee for overseas Pakistanis (rejecting the proposed $20,000). Candidates from other provinces will be required to pass MDCAT for MBBS admissions in Punjab.
The CM barred LDA from taxing beauty parlours, ordered smog-prevention measures, and directed continuous operation of water filtration plants. The cabinet approved launch of the “Maryam Nawaz Ration Card” pilot project in Lahore, an interest-free electric taxi scheme, and recruitment of 8,084 teaching interns.
Further approvals included new judicial posts, Punjab Domestic Workers Rules 2024, Punjab Wildlife Hazard Control Rules 2025, and a Letter of Intent to promote friendly relations with China’s Guizhou Province.
The cabinet amended the Punjab Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 2016 after creating the post of Director General Forests (BS-20) and approved establishment of the Punjab Forensic Science Authority and its Board of Commissioners.
It sanctioned creation of Nawaz Sharif Cardiac Centres at Samli Hospital and Murree, a Horticulture Agency for Murree, and subsidies under agricultural schemes including the Water-Efficient Agriculture Programme, High Power Tractor Programme 2025-26, and Transformation of Agriculture in Potohar.
The cabinet approved revamping of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by merging the Environmental Monitoring Centre and establishing the Potohar Water Board. It also okayed the Counter Narcotics Force Punjab, Chenab University of Science and Technology charter, and faculty appointments up to age 65 on contract.
Funds were approved for Mayo Hospital emergency revamp, 5,182 water filtration plants, DSNG vans, and a Centre of Excellence in Phoolnagar, Kasur. The meeting also endorsed the CM Value Addition Financing Scheme for Pink Salt, consultancy for placer gold block studies in Attock, and Rs612 million compensation for Neela Gumbad affectees.
Under the Chief Minister’s Model Village Programme, new development schemes were sanctioned to enhance municipal services in rural areas. The cabinet also approved the installation of 25 air quality monitoring stations under the World Bank’s Punjab Clean Air Project (PCAP) and revised allocations for the ADP 2025–26.
Other key decisions included approval of CM’s Asaan Karobar Finance (North, Centre, and South) and Asaan Export Finance for SMEs, amendment to the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 linking registration numbers directly with vehicle owners, and endorsement of the Punjab Horticulture Authority Act 2024.
The cabinet expanded the Punjab Mass Transit Authority’s scope to Gujranwala and Sargodha, approved new minimum wage rates for industrial and domestic workers, and sanctioned the Wheat Release Policy 2025–26.
Further approvals covered Punjab Life Insurance Company reforms, Punjab Defamation Tribunals, Anti-Corruption Court (Sahiwal), and Punjab Environment and Climate Change Endowment Fund Company.
Funds were also approved for “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” awareness campaigns, Punjab Saaf Pani Authority, and Lahore’s development projects under ADP 2025-26. The cabinet ratified amendments to the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969, linking registration numbers with owners’ names, and sanctioned the Punjab Right to Peaceful Protest Act 2024 and Punjab Mines and Minerals Act 2025. It also approved draft rules under the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 and amendments to several key laws, including the Drugs Act 1976, Forest Act 1927, and Punjab Sales Tax on Services Act 2012.
New Boards of Governors were formed for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Lahore, and Sargodha Cardiology Institute. The cabinet approved salary increases for judicial and technical staff and sanctioned a Rs100 billion grant to the Pakistan Army for post-flood infrastructure and security preparedness.
Other approvals included restructuring of ECSP, creation of excise police stations, Punjab Wildlife (Amendment) Rules 2025, new projects under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme, and transfer of Mian Nawaz Sharif Cancer Care Hospital to the Health Department. The cabinet also approved inclusion of 11 new schemes in ADP 2025–26, solar project SLAs, and formation of boards for cardiac, education, and housing institutions across Punjab.
