LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that public welfare remains at the heart of the provincial government’s initiatives under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
She said the Punjab cabinet in it’s Monday meeting paid tribute to the soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the fight against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing them as national heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the country’s defence and peace.
Azma Bokhari expressed concern that some political leaders continued to refrain from explicitly declaring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan a terrorist organisation. Criticising Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s stance, she said political parties that had themselves suffered from terrorism should adopt a clear and unequivocal position against it. National interest and love for the country, she added, must take precedence over political affiliations.
Raising questions about the issuance of mineral licences in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the information minister said 422 mineral licences had been issued in the province up to 2010, while reports suggested that more than 4,200 licences were issued between 2013 and 2024. She said around 1,000 licences had reportedly been issued during the tenures of former chief ministers Mahmood Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur.
She alleged that certain mineral-related arrangements had benefited family interests and family-owned companies. She added that strict action had been taken against irregularities involving mineral licences along the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, resulting in the cancellation of several licences, and that the relevant record was available.
The minister said claims about the law and order situation in Punjab should be based on verified statistics. She alleged that political hostility towards Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was being used to cast doubt on the provincial government’s performance.
According to her, incidents of robbery had declined, while the chief minister maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual violence against women and children. She said measures were in place to ensure the registration of FIRs and the prompt arrest of suspects in such cases. She urged journalists to verify facts before reporting or broadcasting claims.
Highlighting the provincial government’s development agenda, Azma Bokhari said the Maryam Nawaz administration was creating new investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock, skills development and exports. She said a development programme for 2026–2030 focused on strengthening agriculture and livestock, with an anticipated investment of approximately Rs2 trillion. More than 46 investors had expressed interest in the programme, which was expected to generate over 150,000 employment opportunities.
The information minister said Pakistani products had a strong presence in international markets, but footballs, cutlery and other goods manufactured in Pakistan had often been sold abroad under foreign brands. The government was now focusing on promoting Pakistani products under their own national identity through the Made in Pakistan initiative.
She added that efforts were being made to promote pink salt exports under Pakistan’s own identity. Measures were also under way to establish fan-testing facilities in Pakistan.
Azma Bokhari said the provincial government was also prioritising skills development to improve employment opportunities for young people. Through facilitation by the Pakistan Skills Development Fund, Pakistani youth had secured jobs with major food chains in Saudi Arabia.
She said more than 30,000 tractors had been provided during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s two-year tenure, with the Punjab government set to pay a subsidy of Rs9.5 billion under the scheme. She added that the chief minister had launched a beautification project in Sahiwal and that steps were under way to establish Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHAs) in every district.
The government also planned to provide six Clinic on Wheels vehicles to Gilgit-Baltistan.
Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan said that when the Punjab government assumed office in 2024, the transport sector urgently needed investment. He said the sector had received no significant investment between 2021 and 2024. Funding for transport was increased in the 2024–25 financial year, while Rs104 billion was spent on the sector in 2025–26.
Bilal Akbar Khan said the Orange Line and Metrobus services were already operational but their reach and facilities remained limited. The government initially planned to introduce electric buses in five cities before deciding to expand the initiative to every district of Punjab.
He said the plan to introduce 1,100 electric buses across the province was an important step towards providing modern, environmentally friendly and dignified public transport. With a fare of just Rs20, the service aims to make quality transport affordable and accessible to the public, reflecting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s commitment to public welfare.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026