LAHORE/MULTAN: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a major plan to promote small industries across the province and constituted the Punjab Economic Transformation Committee (PETC) to accelerate industrial development.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister to review measures for promoting industrialization in Punjab. The meeting decided to develop different districts as industrial hubs in accordance with their local production capacity, skills and economic needs. The 11-member committee will be headed by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, while the provincial finance secretary will serve as the committee’s secretary. The committee will identify economic potential through district-level economic mapping and determine sectoral priorities for establishing industrial clusters in various districts. It will set measurable indicators along with short-term and long-term timelines for implementation.
The committee will consult private-sector stakeholders to develop sector-wise actionable plans and work towards establishing a sustainable ecosystem for economic growth. It will focus on preparing a skilled workforce through skill development programmes tailored to the needs of relevant industries.
The chief minister directed that locally-produced value-added products be linked with global value chains to strengthen exports and industrial competitiveness. During the meeting, proposals were reviewed to develop Lahore as a hub for IT software, garments, meat processing and leather industries. The meeting considered promoting fan manufacturing, rice exports and appliance industries in Gujrat, dairy products in Sahiwal, and technical textiles, furniture and dairy processing in Faisalabad. Proposals to develop Gujranwala as a hub for surgical instruments and sports goods were also reviewed.
Maryam said Punjab has been transformed into a vast development and construction site, with modern infrastructure projects being launched from cities to rural areas across the province. She said areas which once suffered from deprivation would now witness progress, while villages across Punjab were gradually being transformed into model villages. The largest network of public facilities is being established in Punjab. Modern wastewater treatment plants are also being set up in different cities.
The CM said the Punjab Development Programme, comprising development projects worth Rs517 billion, has opened a new chapter of balanced development across the province. Cities that used to be submerged during heavy rains will soon become a thing of the past, as 380 water storage tanks will be constructed across Punjab. A historic upgrade of sewerage is underway, including the installation of HDP pipelines designed to last up to 100 years. Under the Punjab Development Programme, more than 6,000 kilometres of sewerage lines and 189 kilometres of strong water drains will be constructed. The programme will include the construction of 83 disposal stations and nine underground water storage tanks. These underground tanks will help store rainwater and improve water management during heavy rainfall. The chief minister said that through these projects, the promise of a better life for every city, village and region of Punjab was being fulfilled.
In another meeting, the CM announced extraordinary measures to address the unprecedented economic challenges arising from the ongoing conflict in the region. For the convenience of citizens, services under e-business platforms and the Maryam Ki Dastak initiative will continue, while official meetings will be held through online platforms and teleconferences.
The private sector was also advised to adopt work-from-home arrangements, avoid unnecessary events and limit staff presence to essential personnel. Maryam directed authorities to strictly monitor transport fares across all districts and take firm legal action against those charging excessive fares. She ordered strict monitoring of the supply and demand of essential food items. Appealing to the public, she urged citizens to avoid outdoor functions and late-night shopping during the ongoing emergency situation. She advised people not to indulge in unnecessary purchasing or hoarding of essential commodities. She paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS and CDF Asim Munir for their courageous decisions in dealing with the difficult crisis. She said brave nations confronted difficult circumstances with unity, patience and wisdom, adding that anyone attempting to exploit the situation for personal gain would be dealt with strictly.
Meanwhile, Multan Division Commissioner Aamir Karim reviewed the ongoing upgradation work of the Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh under the supervision of the Walled City Authority and checked the construction quality of the project on Monday.
Officials say the CM has released an additional funding of Rs500 million on a special request summary put up by Aamir. The government has released the funds for the upgradation of the Qila. The amount is more than the allocated funds for the current financial year so that the project can be completed on a fast-track basis.
The commissioner directed that the pace of work on the project be increased and maximum development works be completed by June so that the restoration process of the historical site could be completed soon. The commissioner directed establishing a modern cafe in the Qila’s library so that better facilities could be provided to citizens and tourists.
