Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a plan to allocate 3,200 plots to journalists in the province, following discussions with Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari regarding the Lahore Phase 2 Journalist Colony. Maryam Nawaz stressed that this initiative is not a favor but a right of journalists, assuring that the allocation process will be merit-based and legally compliant. Applications will also be solicited from journalists beyond the Lahore Press Club, with an official advertisement for the initiative expected soon.
In addition to supporting journalists, Maryam Nawaz hosted 1,400 Hindu families, distributing financial aid for their festive celebrations. She also announced initiatives aimed at improving conditions for minority communities, including special identity cards and virtual police stations to address grievances. Development projects in minority neighborhoods are also in the pipeline.
Also Read: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Unveils Kisan Card Initiative
On the agricultural front, the Punjab government launched the “Kisaan Card” initiative to provide direct assistance to farmers, bypassing intermediaries. The government is also preparing to roll out the “Green Tractor Scheme,” which offers subsidies up to Rs 1 million, and plans to solarize 7,000 diesel-powered tube wells to reduce electricity costs for farmers. A significant machinery hub initiative worth Rs 10-15 billion is also set to be established in each tehsil to provide affordable farming equipment.
In response to the worsening air pollution in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz has introduced a “green lockdown” in high-smog areas, aiming to reduce smog levels in the city, which currently ranks among the top three most polluted globally. She called for cross-border cooperation with Indian Punjab to tackle the environmental crisis, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to address the pollution affecting the region. Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb presented these smog-combatting initiatives in the Punjab Assembly, including plans for “Air Quality Index diplomacy” with India.
