The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved a major industrial development and export promotion program worth Rs1.995 trillion, which is expected to generate more than 162,000 jobs across the province.
The plan was presented by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Under the proposal, the provincial government will invest Rs1.089 trillion, while the private sector will contribute Rs906 billion.
The initiative aims to support existing industries and promote e-business, e-commerce, garment manufacturing and plug-and-play facilities. It also includes testing and certification services for the leather, footwear and sports goods industries.
Material-testing laboratories will be established for the cutlery, handmade tools, ceramics and fan industries. The program also provides for export financing to support horticulture and floriculture.
Agriculture processing parks will be set up in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar. Other areas covered by the program include wheat value enhancement, meat and milk value chains, skills development, value addition for citrus fruits, potatoes and mangoes, tourism and aquaculture.
The cabinet also approved the establishment of horticulture authorities in 20 districts.
The cabinet approved subsidies for a new phase of the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Program, with Rs9.5 billion allocated for the provision of 10,000 high-powered tractors.
More than 250,000 applications have been received under the scheme, while approximately 25,000 tractors have already been delivered to farmers. The cabinet also approved a waiver of late registration fees.
Subsidies were also approved for Phase IV of the low-powered Green Tractor Program and an agricultural transformation project in Thal.
The government will allocate Rs7.6 billion for drip irrigation systems, solar power, water storage facilities and other infrastructure across 10,000 acres in Mankera and Layyah.
The cabinet approved Rs60 billion for the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing loan program. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rejected a proposal to impose stamp duty under the scheme.
She also directed the immediate release of funds needed to make medical equipment operational in hospitals. The cabinet approved funding to clear essential outstanding liabilities of the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department.
The meeting also approved the donation of six clinic-on-wheels vehicles to Gilgit-Baltistan and 15 to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
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In another decision, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Maryam Nawaz Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Mianwali.
The cabinet approved revisions to traffic fines under the Punjab Ring Road Authority, with increased penalties proposed for speeding, overloading, violations involving pedestrian crossings and other traffic offences.
It also approved amendments to an air-quality management project that includes the provision of electric trucks and anti-smog guns. Additional funding was approved for expanding public services and development projects.
Other decisions included the recruitment of teaching interns in government schools and operational arrangements for 1,500 electric buses at the tehsil level.
The cabinet also approved Punjab’s hosting of the 14th South Asian Games and relaxed the recruitment ban for several government departments and agencies