Pakistan: Lahore to Get Rs. 59 Billion for 327 Development Projects
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The Punjab government is undertaking 327 development projects in Lahore as part of the Lahore Development Programme, with a total budget allocation of Rs59 billion. These projects primarily aim to revamp the city’s roads, streets, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure on a large scale.
During a review meeting on Friday, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman emphasized that, to maintain transparency and uphold construction quality, NESPAK has been engaged for third-party monitoring and quality assurance.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Rashid Iqbal Nasir, Lahore-based Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), and senior government officials were also in attendance.
The finance minister highlighted that the programme serves as a flagship initiative of the provincial government, designed to uplift long-neglected areas of Lahore by providing them with essential infrastructure. “This effort is not limited to road construction or drainage works. It embodies the chief minister’s vision of delivering improved living standards and equitable development opportunities to all citizens,” he stated. He also mentioned that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is personally overseeing the project to guarantee its timely and efficient execution.
He further noted that a robust road network is crucial for driving economic growth and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza provided a briefing on the project’s progress during the meeting. He shared that 182 schemes are currently underway across six zones of the city in the first phase, focusing on street paving, sewerage system enhancements, road repairs, and drainage upgrades.
According to Business Recorder, in an interactive session, provincial legislators voiced concerns from their constituencies. They stressed the need to safeguard street vendors during anti-encroachment drives and proposed alternative solutions to protect their livelihoods. They also suggested that sewerage projects be completed in stages, ensuring one phase finishes before another begins to minimize disruption for the public.
In response, the finance minister instructed the deputy commissioner to swiftly address the issues raised. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all development efforts are inclusive, timely, and efficiently executed.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/04/26/lahore-to-get-rs-59-billion-for-327-development-projects/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
