LAHORE: The governance model of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif is not limited to a few cities or roads, but aims to ensure uniform development across the entire province. “The vision of the Chief Minister is that development should be visible in every city, town, and village. Under this vision, projects are underway to transform rural areas into model villages, which will significantly improve the quality of life of rural communities,” Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari said. She maintained that development will be visible in every corner of Punjab. Under the Nigehban Ramazan Programme, more than 2.5 million cards have been distributed, while over 2.1 million people have already withdrawn financial assistance. She added that the Punjab government is giving special priority to the development of small cities and rural areas, and under the Punjab Development Program, development projects worth Rs517 billion are underway in more than 67 cities across the province. Responding to a query, she warned that the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority will take strict action against hoarding and artificial price hikes. She also said that foolproof security arrangements have been made for Youm-e-Ali (RA), mosques, and Imambargahs. Azma Bokhari invited everyone to visit these villages and witness the positive transformation themselves, adding that such development was something people had not even imagined in the past 78 years. While addressing a press conference at DGPR Lahore along with Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique, Azma said the Punjab government is taking large-scale initiatives to provide relief to the public during the holy month of Ramazan, and welfare projects are progressing rapidly across the province. She said the Punjab government has launched a major initiative to provide relief during Ramazan. Under the Nigehban Ramadan Card Programme, 2,503,897 cards have been distributed so far, while over 2.1 million beneficiaries have withdrawn funds through these cards. She further stated that from 1st Ramazan to 1st March, official Iftar arrangements were made at 422 locations across the province, benefiting thousands of people. Similarly, 1,763 stalls have been established in Ramadan Nigehban Bazaars to facilitate citizens. Azma Bokhari said the Punjab government is paying special attention to the development of smaller cities and rural areas to significantly improve the quality of life of residents. She stated that under the Punjab Development Programme, projects worth Rs517 billion are underway in over 67 cities, and Rs13 billion has been saved through transparent e-tendering. She added that the programme includes the laying of more than 6,000 kilometers of sewerage lines and the construction of 189 kilometers of strong water drains. In addition, 83 disposal stations and 9 underground water storage tanks will be constructed. She said transparent tendering in development projects has resulted in Rs13 billion in savings for the government. Relevant departments including Housing, WASA, and Local Government are actively working to address potential issues before the monsoon season, while the PDMA is also being reorganized to better deal with flood situations. Responding to a question about petroleum prices, Azma Bokhari said the increase in fuel prices is due to global circumstances, particularly tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. However, she said the government has reduced the petroleum levy to provide relief to the public and prices will be reduced further once conditions improve. She warned that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in hoarding or artificial price hikes. Regarding the local government system, Azma Bokhari said the government has completed its work and handed the matter over to the Election Commission, and local government elections will be held after delimitation of constituencies. Speaking about security arrangements, she said foolproof security has been ensured during Youm-e-Ali (RA) and throughout Ramazan for mosques, Imambargahs, I’tikaf gatherings, and Taraweeh prayers. Women security squads will also be deployed in markets during Eid shopping. On this occasion, Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique said large-scale measures are being taken to eliminate urban flooding in Punjab cities. He stated that 380 water storage tanks will be constructed along roads to store rainwater instead of letting it go to waste. He further said that HDP pipes are being used for the sewerage system in Punjab for the first time, which has a lifespan of up to 100 years. In addition, wastewater treatment plants are being established in various cities of the province to make sewage water reusable. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026