LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that public welfare remains the central focus of the provincial government’s initiatives under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, highlighting development plans, investment opportunities, youth employment and improvements in public transport.
Addressing a press briefing after the 37th Punjab Cabinet meeting, she announced that the government is expanding development initiatives across agriculture, livestock, skills development, and exports. Backed by an anticipated Rs2 trillion investment under the 2026-2030 development programme, the initiative has already drawn interest from over 46 investors and is projected to create more than 150,000 jobs.
The provincial government is scaling up sustainable mobility with the deployment of 1,100 electric buses across Punjab. Formulated to deliver high-quality, eco-friendly public transit, the program features a highly subsidized fare structure anchored at Rs 20 per ride to optimize public accessibility. This initiative follows a capital expenditure of Rs 104 billion dedicated to transport infrastructure during the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The minister also highlighted the Made in Pakistan initiative, saying the government is working to promote Pakistani products, including footballs, cutlery and pink salt, under the country’s own identity in international markets. Efforts are also under way to establish fan-testing facilities in Pakistan.
Economic progress over the Chief Minister’s two-year tenure focuses heavily on labor mobility and agricultural mechanization. By leveraging the Punjab Skills Development Fund, the provincial government successfully facilitated international job placements for Pakistani youth within Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and food sectors. Simultaneously, the state executed a massive Rs 9.5 billion fiscal intervention to supply local farmers with more than 30,000 subsidized tractors.
The minister announced ongoing efforts to establish Parks and Horticulture Authorities across every district, alongside plans to deploy six “Clinic on Wheels” mobile health units to Gilgit-Baltistan. Additionally, she highlighted the government’s current beautification initiative in Sahiwal.
Commenting on the security situation, Azma Bokhari paid tribute to soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the fight against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling them national heroes. She urged political leaders to adopt a clear stance against terrorism and said national interest should take precedence over political affiliations.
Raising concerns over mineral resource governance, she presented licensing data spanning 2013 to 2024 to highlight systemic irregularities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She added that enforcement actions against unlawful permitting along the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial border had successfully culminated in the revocation of several licenses.
The minister further urged media organisations to verify information before reporting claims about law and order in Punjab. She said the provincial government is taking measures to curb crime and ensure prompt registration of FIRs and arrests in cases involving violence against women and children.
Under a strategic funding boost launched in 2024, Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan stated that the Punjab government is actively modernizing public transit. By introducing zero-emission electric buses across all districts, the initiative prioritizes reliable regional connectivity to deliver sustainable, economical, and high-quality mass transit.