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LAHORE, Nov 05 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the 30th meeting of the provincial cabinet which took several administrative, legislative, and development decisions.
The cabinet rejected the proposal to increase fares of electric buses in Multan, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, and formally ratified the ban on the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
It approved the recruitment of School Teacher Interns in government schools and gave consent to the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025, in line with the Chief Minister’s vision that “one who possesses it, owns it.”
The meeting approved a subsidy program under the Chief Minister High-Tech Farm Mechanization Finance Program, through which super seeders and other modern equipment will be provided at a 60 per cent subsidy. More than 10,000 applications have been received so far, while 1,500 applications have been processed through the Bank of Punjab. Under Kisan Card Phase-II, Rs 100 billion has been disbursed and Rs 70 billion recovered from the previous phase. It was informed that loans repaid under the Kisan Card are refreshed within 24 hours for the next phase.
The meeting approved the launch of the sugarcane crushing season from November 15, and reviewed the availability and prices of DAP and urea fertilizers. The chief minister observed that Punjab’s agriculture sector had suffered in the past due to neglect of farm mechanization.
The cabinet also approved an MoU for Lahore–Rawalpindi High-Speed Rail, and the establishment of Air Punjab (Private) Limited. QR codes for retailers were approved under the Prime Minister’s Cashless Strategy, while the initiative titled “Mehrab Mahfouz Roshan Punjab” was also sanctioned.
An MoU for agricultural cooperation with Egypt was approved, along with the formation of the Board of Governors for the Punjab Centre of Excellence for Countering Violence and Extremism. The cabinet endorsed the introduction of a traffic fines and points system, and allocated funds for construction of a museum and memorial at National Bank Park, as well as for the restoration and upgradation of Lahore Museum.
Approvals were also given for grants to Punjab Transport Company to establish electric bus depots in various cities, and for the Gujranwala Mass Transit Project, including its exemption from Central Development Working Party (CDWP) clearance. The meeting approved creation of posts for cardiologists, technologists, medical officers, and nurses at newly established cardiac cath-labs in district hospitals.
The cabinet approved relaxation of the ban on recruitments for Punjab Financial Advisory Services (PFAS) and Punjab Sahulat Bazar Authority (PSBA), as well as staff recruitments in the Punjab Services Tribunal. It approved the appointments of CEOs for the Punjab Land Development Company Limited and the Punjab Mineral Company (Private) Limited.
Further approvals included the nomination of non-official members and Chairman of the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), creation of research-related posts in the Education Board Bahawalpur, extension of contracts of employees at the Biomedical Equipment Resource Center, and recruitment of essential staff in Engineering Consultancy Services Punjab (Private) Limited (ECSP). The cabinet also approved reallocation of funds under the Green Pakistan Program and establishment of the University of Hafizabad.
Under the Punjab Consumer Protection Act, powers were delegated to Deputy Commissioners, District Consumer Protection Councils, and Assistant Directors (Legal). The meeting approved nomination of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court Gujranwala, and extension of the Counter-Terrorism Department’s jurisdiction to areas previously excluded from Tehsil Koh-e-Sulaiman and District Rajanpur. Judges were also approved for Anti-Terrorism Courts in Bahawalpur and Sargodha.
The cabinet approved the annual budget 2025–26 and revised budget 2024–25 of the Punjab Auqaf Organization. It endorsed a request for federal tax exemption for the hydraulic canopy project at Data Darbar, and approved subsidy for Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Scheme Phase-II. The meeting sanctioned increase in bed capacity for new general hospitals in Attock, Layyah, and Bahawalnagar.
Amendments to the Punjab Private Housing Schemes Rules 2022, draft supplementary agreement for the Mobile CRMS App 2025, and funds for Smart Safe Cities Phase-I and IPNV75 expansion were approved. Allowances equivalent to the Health Department were sanctioned for doctors and specialists of the Mines and Minerals Department, and a re-evaluation of laboratory testing service rates in the Fisheries Department was also approved. The cabinet further sanctioned grant-in-aid to enhance the capacity of federal and provincial law enforcement agencies.
The cabinet approved Green Agri Cooperative Pakistan for registration under Section 10 of the Operative Societies Act, 1925. Change in the title of various projects under the Annual Development Program was approved. Amendments to the Terms of Reference (TORs) of the Standing Committee on Law and Order (SCCLO) of the Cabinet were approved. Additional charge of CEO of Punjab Energy Holding Company Private Limited was approved. The Cabinet approved renewal of the appointment of Rector of FC College. Approval was given to the formation of Board of Management for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education in Gujranwala Medical College and Sahiwal Medical College. Approval was given to the nomination for appointment of judges in Anti-Terrorism Courts in Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan.
The cabinet approved to purchase vehicles for field operations and revenue collection for Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control Department. A summary was approved regarding new vehicles for the security of esteemed judges of the Supreme Court and foreign guests. The Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority Act, 2024 was approved. An ex-gratia/compassionate package was approved under Tourism Department. Approval was given to release funds for establishing a green corridor along the Ring Forest Station of Lahore and Shahdara to Raiwind railway track. Land acquisition was approved for the establishment of a logistics park adjacent to M-3 Industrial City, FIEDMC, Faisalabad. Construction, expansion and rehabilitation of t road from Lailyani to Kasur, Raja Jang Police Station, improvement and expansion project of Samundri Rajana Road and construction of Lakhani to Jaddewala road and bridge in Dera Ghazi Khan were approved. The annual budget estimate of Multan Development Authority, inclusion of four schemes of Sialkot district in the ADP were approved.
The cabinet approved to include schemes of Film City in the ADP and change of title. Funds were approved for Abdullah Gul Interchange Chowk and Barki Road Development. The cabinet approved the upgradation project in and around Lahore Railway Station. The wasted funds under PSDP (2024-25) were re-validated. The site change for the establishment of Shrimp Estate from Jhalarian Shamli, Muzaffargarh to Chak 58 NB Tehsil and District Sargodha was approved. The application for inclusion of development projects in ADP under the Chief Minister Punjab Development Program was approved. The nomination as a member of the Punjab Defamation Tribunal in Multan was approved. The cabinet approved the Punjab Low Carbon and Adaptive Agriculture Project with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. The draft of the Punjab Education Sector Plan 2025-30 was approved.
The cabinet approved establishment of the Punjab Tourism and Heritage Authority along with the proposed draft. The appointment of Chairperson Drug Courts Punjab was approved. The proposed amendments in the Punjab Government (Revised) Advertisement Policy, 2025 were approved. The nomination of members of the Board of Governors under the Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre Act, 2025 was approved. The proposed draft of the Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre (Amendment) Act, 2025 was approved. An additional charge of the Livestock and Dairy Development Board was approved. Development scheme for the upgradation of Punjab Trout Hatchery in Murree was approved. The expansion of Soda Ash Plant for Lucky Core Industries was approved. The subsidy for the Agriculture Farm Mechanization Project was approved. Grant-in-Aid recommended by the Cabinet Committee was approved.
The cabinet approved revised MoU on Upgradation of Lahore-Rawalpindi High Speed Rail, Secondary and Tertiary Railway Network. After mediation by the Board of Investment, a Memorandum of Understanding was also approved between LWMC and Al Barak. Approval was given to the appointment of the Chief Executive of Air Punjab (Pvt) Limited. Approval was given to the ‘Roads Rehabilitation Project’ under the ‘Punjab Khushal Program’. Approval was given to formation of the Board of Governors of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, Lahore. Amendments to the Registration Act 1908 were approved. The meeting approved Rs 365640 medical charges for Rab Nawaz Khan, Physiotherapist of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital. Approval was given on the request for financial assistance for the medical treatment of Muhammad Saleem son of Muhammad Anwar, a resident of village Phalkot in Abbottabad district.
The cabinet approved ratification of the proceedings of the 28th and 29th meetings of the provincial cabinet. Approval was given for the ratification of the proceedings of the 25th meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislative Business and Privatization. Approval was given for the ratification of the proceedings of the 39th meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Law and Order. The proceedings of the 36th, 37th and 38th meetings of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Law and Order were ratified.
During the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif appreciated and congratulated performance of Provincial Special Assistant Salma Butt, DG Food Amjad Hafeez and Secretary Price Control Kiran Khurshid. During the meeting, Fateha was also offered for the departed soul of the father of Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed.