JHELUM: Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiyani chaired a meeting with the district administration in Jhelum on Saturday to review progress on major development projects.

The meeting reviewed progress on the 128-kilometre Lillah–Jhelum dual carriageway project, a major road scheme serving hundreds of thousands of residents. Officials informed the meeting that three sections of the road had largely been completed, while work on the remaining two sections was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The minister also reviewed the ongoing construction of the Jhelum Model Bazaar at Tehsil Road and later visited the Modern Bazaar in Sohawa, where Assistant Commissioner Ghazala Asghar briefed him on the Punjab government’s beautification scheme. He reviewed the ongoing development work, directed the authorities to ensure its timely and quality completion and interacted with traders and shopkeepers to receive feedback on the project.

The meeting discussed plans to establish Jhelum’s first co-working space and job centre to support young entrepreneurs and professionals. The proposed facility will provide shared workspaces while also serving as a platform where employers can register vacancies and job seekers can register for employment opportunities.

Mr Kiyani also reviewed a proposal to establish the Jhelum Heritage and Culture Board, comprising historians, authors and local representatives, to promote the district’s history, heritage, culture and language.

The board would be constituted this month and would organise literary and cultural events later this year.

The minister directed the relevant departments to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing projects and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating development and creating new opportunities for the people of Jhelum.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026