The Punjab cabinet has given the green light to the province’s first detailed Child Protection Policy, created by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau with support from UNICEF Pakistan.
This marks a major step in protecting children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bureau’s chairperson described it as a thorough plan for child safety across Punjab, which has been in development for over two years and already includes ongoing case management work.
During a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, covering 101 agenda points, she also introduced a bold plan to cut electricity tariffs to offer financial relief to citizens.
This move would make Punjab the first province to voluntarily lower power rates, despite energy pricing being a federal matter. The decision includes a 30–40% reduction in the tariffs of Quaid-i-Azam and Punjab Thermal Power Private Limited.
To support wheat farmers, the chief minister unveiled a large-scale relief package. Payments of a Rs5,000-per-acre subsidy have already been completed for 514,000 farmers, and more will follow once verification is done for another 500,000.
In the second phase, Rs63 billion has been allocated through the Kisan Card, with Rs18 billion already used for fertilizer purchases. The Chief Minister’s Wheat Programme 2025 was also approved.
In another major announcement, the cabinet approved the formation of Air Punjab Private Limited Company, with the goal of launching it within a year.
CM Maryam also ordered a province-wide crackdown on vape shops, called for better worker safety gear, and gave the labour department one month to enforce safety measures.
The cabinet also approved ration cards for registered workers and miners, the rollout of electric buses in nine divisions, the setup of charging stations across major cities, and eco-tourism initiatives for Changa Manga and Lal Sohanra parks.