Maryam orders completing Lahore uplift plan by June 30

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered for timely completion of the Lahore Development Plan, setting a strict deadline of June 30 for all ongoing development works.

Chairing a special review meeting, she instructed the senior provincial minister and chief secretary Punjab to ensure progress through monthly timelines and monitoring. She conducted a visual inspection of key projects and mandated the completion of construction and rehabilitation work on 3,705 streets under the Lahore Municipal Corporation and 230 streets under the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa). A final deadline was also issued for the repair of Wasa infrastructure in 1,573 streets.

Phase-II of the Lahore Development Plan includes comprehensive street construction and repair initiatives in Allama Iqbal, Aziz Bhatti, and Wagah Towns. Highlighting the urgency, the CM stated, “Delays in development schemes directly affect the lives of citizens. I hold myself accountable to the people and will not tolerate any inconvenience caused to them.”

Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz met the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan Henny de Vries to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, with a special focus on trade, youth development, and sports diplomacy.

The meeting was also attended by Dutch hockey legend Floris Jan Bovelander and Dutch-Pakistani footballer Kayanat Bokhari.

The chief minister praised the growing bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands, noting, “Our historic ties have seen meaningful expansion in trade, agriculture, education, and capacity-building.” She highlighted that trade between the two nations had reached $2.3 billion and expressed optimism for further economic collaboration.

Maryam highlighted the potential of sports like hockey and cricket in enhancing people-to-people contact and cultural exchange. She said the participation of Dutch legends was a source of inspiration for youth in Punjab. “Floris Bovelander working with young players in Lahore will energise our national sport, while Kayanat Bokhari stands as a role model for aspiring female athletes,” she said.

Underscoring her government’s commitment to youth development, the CM added, “Through the ‘Khelta Punjab’ initiative, we are expanding sports facilities at the district, tehsil, and village levels to foster healthy and productive engagement among the youth.”