The Punjab cabinet approved a broad set of policy decisions across agriculture, employment, public transport, health, education, and governance, outlining what Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif described as a roadmap for inclusive development. During its 32nd meeting, the cabinet launched the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” program to allocate state-owned agricultural land for cultivation. Authorities were directed to immediately distribute government land to 50,000 people, emphasizing that public land should generate livelihoods rather than serve elite interests.
To enhance public transport, the cabinet approved the procurement of 1,000 green electric buses and the expansion of e-bus services to the tehsil level. A cashless fare system will begin on March 25, with higher fares applicable for cash payments. The cabinet also authorized large-scale recruitment, including 216 constables in excise and narcotics departments, 1,000 posts in the Crime Control Department, and 980 tourism police positions, while easing recruitment restrictions in tourism and heritage departments.
In tourism and culture, officials were instructed to organize horse and cattle shows in all districts and develop new tourist destinations beyond Murree. Surveillance technology has facilitated the surrender of 141 dacoits in riverine areas and the recovery of abductees.
Education and welfare initiatives include amendments to the School Management Council policy, the establishment of the University of the Punjab’s Potohar campus in Gujar Khan, and an increase in travel allowance for para-veterinary staff. Legal approval was granted for payments under the Imam Masjid Honorarium Program. In health, the cabinet approved ventilator procurement, continuation of specialized healthcare staff, support for autonomous medical institutions, and the launch of the Chief Minister Cardiac Surgery and Cancer Patient programs.
The cabinet also endorsed various legislative, administrative, and financial measures covering taxation, women’s rights, disaster management, policing, agriculture, and social protection, along with subsidies for electric bus services and funding for surveillance, food safety, and welfare initiatives. CM Maryam Nawaz stated that the government’s goal is to ensure facilities and opportunities reach citizens from cities to villages, describing the decisions as people-centric and inclusive.
