LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet, in its 34th meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday, approved a wide range of relief, governance and development measures, including summer vacations in schools across the province from May 22 to August 24.
The cabinet paid a glowing tribute on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq to PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as the air chief and the naval chief. The cabinet commended Chief Minister Maryam for a successful operation in the riverine Kacha areas.
Key institutional decisions included approval of the Punjab General Insurance Company (PGIC), expansion of the Quaid-i-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura by 200 acres, lifting of recruitment bans in the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, and restructuring of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The cabinet also approved upgrading UET Narowal to a full university and launching the Punjab New Energy Vehicle policy. Under the Apna Khhet, Apna Rozgar programme for Cholistan and riverine areas, 30,000 plots have been identified, with nearly 200,000 applications received. The cabinet also approved inclusion of hill torrent projects in Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan in the 2025–26 ADP, establishment of a Provincial Traffic Management and Command Centre, and the Chief Minister Stroke Management Programme.
Other approvals included abolition of motorcycle transfer fees up to 150cc, establishment of the Punjab Aquaculture Authority, transfer of Data Darbar Hospital to the Auqaf Department, waste-to-energy projects, groundwater recharge pilot schemes, and expansion of road infrastructure and service routes in multiple districts. The cabinet approved appointments of vice chancellors, judges, chief executives and senior officials in various institutions and departments. The meeting concluded with approval of the minutes of the 33rd cabinet meeting and ratification of decisions taken by the cabinet’s standing committees on legislation and privatization.
Additional measures included approval of the Punjab Control of Ghunda and Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2025, amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, urban bus operations under a rental model for free public transport, and annual maintenance grants for 5,182 water filtration plants.
The cabinet also approved appointments in key institutions, ratified previous decisions, and endorsed cooperation initiatives with China’s Zhejiang province. Approval was granted for the establishment of additional sessions courts in Hazro tehsil of Attock district and Kot Chhutta tehsil of Dera Ghazi Khan district.
In a separate statement, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz condemned an attack on Ayub Khan Gadhi, expressing grief over four deaths, directing immediate arrest of suspects, medical treatment for the injured, and seeking a detailed report on the incident.
