LAHORE: The Standing Committee of the Punjab Cabinet on Legislative Business and Privatization, in its 36th meeting, reviewed a wide range of governance, legal and institutional reform proposals aimed at improving service delivery, regulatory efficiency and inter-departmental coordination across the province.
The meeting considered summaries from multiple departments, including public safety, climate planning, housing regulation, industrial development, legal aid and prosecution reforms. Most proposals had already undergone legal scrutiny and departmental vetting and wererecommended for approval.
A key item was the Home Department’s proposal to extend its agreement with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for the continued operation of the Punjab Computerised Arms Licence Issuance Management System, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted digitised arms licence issuance and verification.
The Planning and Development Board presented a proposal for the establishment of an Agriculture, Climate and Water (ACWA) Portal consortium, involving key departments including agriculture, irrigation, environment, the Punjab Information Technology Board and the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The initiative aims to improve data integration, policy coordination and evidence-based planning for agriculture, climate resilience and water management.
The committee also reviewed amendments to the Punjab Private Housing Schemes Rules, 2022, aimed at standardising approval processes, strengthening environmental compliance and ensuring regulatory uniformity across housing projects.
In the industrial sector, a Trust Fund Agreement was approved for establishing material testing laboratories in Gujranwala and Sialkot in collaboration with the Urban Unit and UNIDO. The project is expected to enhance quality assurance, certification capacity and export competitiveness.
Reforms in the legal sector included proposed amendments to the Punjab Legal Aid Rules, 2025, introducing tele-legal assistance, revising eligibility criteria and modernising service delivery. Changes were also proposed in prosecution service rules to expand promotion opportunities and adjust recruitment ratios for senior posts, aimed at improving career progression within the department.
