LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet has approved establishment of the province’s first airlines, which will be operating within a year.
“The Air Punjab Private Limited Company has been approved with a target of starting its operation within one year,” said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while presiding over the cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.
She announced to reduce power tariffs of the Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Private Ltd and Punjab Thermal Power Private Ltd to reduce electricity bills of the people. The cabinet discussed reducing the tariff by 30 to 40pc. It also decided to close all vaping centres in the province.
It was informed that the payment of Rs 5,000 per acre subsidy to 514,000 wheat farmers in Punjab had been completed and they payment would be made after completion of the verification process of another 500,000 farmers. A sum of Rs63bn was provided in the second phase through Kisan Card and the farmers had purchased fertilizer worth Rs18bn.
Reduces tariffs of two thermal power plants; approves launch of province’s own airlines; Air Punjab to start operations within a year
The CM directed to take necessary steps for the establishment of a medical college in Layyah. The cabinet also approved a grant-in-aid of Rs400m to the Punjab Journalist Housing Foundation (PJHF). The foundation will pay Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) for the land of the Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme Phase II. Sewerage workers would be provided with safety kits while ration cards for workers and miners registered with the Labour Department had also been approved. The meeting also approved the provision of electric buses in nine divisions of Punjab. It approved the Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre Lahore Act 2025. She directed to admit all children to the autism center without any discrimination.
The cabinet approved the transfer of land to establish Pakistan’s first Nawaz Sharif Medical City in Lahore. The medical district will have blood diseases, bone marrow and all other specialized centers on 5,000 kanals of land besides parks, hotels, food court, play area and urban forest.
The CM set a target of providing essential facilities in all schools across Punjab. Classrooms, toilet blocks, furniture and laboratories will be built in every school worth Rs40bn. The cabinet approved the provision of 1,100 interest-free electric taxis in Lahore.
The meeting approved a Rs100bn Chief Minister Punjab Special Financing Facility to assist flour mills and food grains license holders. Smog mitigation measures were approved through the development of green areas to make Lahore environmentally sustainable.
The cabinet approved the Punjab Public Awareness and Information Dissemination Act, 2025. The Punjab Film Censor Board was approved for its reconstitution. Approval was given for the formation of a board of management for the Institute of Public Health, Lahore, under the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education. Approval was given for the formation of boards of management for Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala and Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal under the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education department.
The meeting approved the provision of funds for the purchase of furniture and equipment in tertiary care hospitals in Punjab. Approval was given for an MoU for data sharing between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and revenue authorities. Approval was given for pension in case of re-appointment or employment after retirement. Approval was given for the inclusion of the post of Secretary Ombudsman Punjab in the First Schedule Part-I under the Punjab Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 2016. ‘Safe Jails Punjab’ initiative was approved. Extension of tenure of Tauqeer Ahmed Nasir as chairman Punjab Film Censor Board was approved. Reconstitution of board of directors of Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company was approved.
Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2025
