
Punjab plans uniform development under CM's vision
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting held on Tuesday to review the progress on the Punjab Development Programme (PDP). Special Secretary Arshad Baig and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi attended the meeting while Syed Zahid Aziz, Managing Director of Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC), gave a briefing on the development made so far.
On this occasion, the Minister directed the implementation of PC-1 as per the guidelines issued to PMDFC, saying all possible steps are being taken for the early start of the project. He urged that work should be done on the lines of the Lahore Development Programme (LDP) and it should be adopted as a model. 'The completion of the project will meet the needs of the cities for the next 25 years,' he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Privatisation Commission signs financial advisory pact for ZTBL sell-off
The Privatisation Commission (PC) has signed a Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) with a consortium led by Next Capital Limited for the privatisation of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), according to a PC statement on Friday. The consortium brought together a powerhouse of expertise, including Ijaz Ahmed & Associates, Baker Tilly Mehmood Idrees Qamar, Executives Network International, Bridge Public Relations, Savills Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, and Prima Global Consulting (Pvt.) Limited, the statement added. ZTBL privatisation: PC Board approves appointment of FA 'This initiative reflects the government's unwavering commitment to inviting private sector investment, modernising banking operations, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of state-owned enterprises (SOEs),' the PC said. 'More importantly, it marks a decisive step towards equipping ZTBL with the tools, capital, and agility needed to empower Pakistan's farmers and agribusinesses like never before.' The government maintains that privatisation of the ZTBL will help deliver faster and accessible credit to small farmers and rural communities. 'The privatisation of ZTBL is designed to catalyse investment in Pakistan's agricultural future by combining private sector efficiency with ZTBL's long-standing expertise in agricultural finance for fostering rural prosperity and ensuring farmers have timely access to essential financial resources. 'The signing of this FASA represents the first critical milestone in the privatisation journey. Under the agreement, the financial advisor will conduct sell-side due diligence, carry out market sounding, engage with potential investors, structure the transaction, market it to investors, and assist the Privatisation Commission in a transparent bidding processm, the PC said.


Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Scope of model village will be expanded: Minister
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is simultaneously focusing on the development of cities and villages and thus the scope of the Punjab Development Programme (PDP) and Model Village will be expanded gradually. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held on Wednesday; Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi was also present. On this occasion, Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) MD Syed Zahid Aziz briefed about the PDP, while Punjab Rural Municipal Development Company CEO Asadullah gave a briefing regarding the Model Village Programme. The meeting considered various suggestions for taking forward the Chief Minister's Model Village Programme. While addressing the meeting, the Minister said the Punjab government will complete sanitation, drainage and street paving schemes in cities and villages under both projects, adding that the provision of these facilities will improve the standard of living of the citizens. He noted that under the Suthra (Clean) Punjab programme, sanitation facilities are already available in every village. He said that union councils play a fundamental role in providing basic civic services; hence, these will be transformed into service centres across Punjab so that people can get essential services near their homes. He added that, on the special instructions of the Chief Minister, the procedure of birth and death certificates has been further simplified and made more accessible across Punjab; citizens can obtain certificates from home through an app. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
10 new agencies to help combat urban flooding
The government has moved to strengthen the province's drainage infrastructure by establishing 10 new Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) under the Punjab Development Programme, aiming to curb urban flooding and standardise sewerage systems. According to the Housing Department, the Finance Department has released the required funds, and appointments have been made for key posts, including managing directors, deputy managing directors, and directors of administration and finance. All newly formed agencies are expected to be operational by August 15. District transition teams will oversee the transfer of existing drainage resources to the new agencies, with immediate attention given to repairing sewerage systems in high-priority areas. The agencies will also be tasked with developing disposal stations, water supply systems, and research and development units, as well as deploying trained field staff. A dedicated helpline will be launched for citizens to lodge complaints, while technical research and engineering solutions will be used to address the root causes of urban flooding. The housing department said these measures will be supported by integrated planning and resource optimisation to ensure long-term sustainability. More WASA agencies are planned for additional districts. The provincial government will seek approval from the Provincial Development Working Party for new sewerage and drainage projects in Multan, Hafizabad, Okara, Jhang, Jhelum, Sargodha, and Dera Ghazi Khan. Proposals include Phase 2 of the Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program, rehabilitation of Disposal Station 9 in Multan, and the development of stormwater drainage systems in multiple districts. Work on sewerage and drainage infrastructure is already underway across Punjab.