LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved key features of a new industrial development and export promotion programme envisaging investments of Rs1.995 trillion and the creation of more than 162,000 jobs.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presided over the meeting.
According to the briefing, the programme, titled PIVOT (Punjab Innovative for Value, Opportunity and Transformation) focuses on industrial infrastructure, cluster development, export competitiveness, value-chain transformation, mechanisation in agriculture and livestock, and public-private partnerships.
It also includes support for existing industries, e-business, e-commerce, garments, plug-and-play facilities, and testing and certification services for leather, footwear and sports goods. Material-testing laboratories for the cutlery, handmade tools, ceramics and fan industries, along with export financing for horticulture and floriculture, are also part of the initiative.
‘Ambitious’ PIVOT programme envisages 162,000 jobs creation; ban on recruitment relaxed for some depts
Agriculture processing parks will be established in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar. The programme also covers wheat value enhancement, meat and milk value chains, skills development, citrus, potato and mango value addition, tourism and aquaculture.
The cabinet approved the establishment of horticulture authorities in 20 districts.
The cabinet okayed subsidies for Phase V of the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Programme, under which the provincial government will provide Rs9.5 billion for 10,000 high-powered tractors. More than 250,000 applications have been received for the programme, according to the briefing.
The government has distributed 44,000 tractors in the past two-and-a-half years, compared with 10,000 over the preceding 20 years. Around 25,000 tractors have so far been delivered to farmers.
The cabinet also approved a waiver of late registration fees under the scheme.
Subsidies were also approved for an agricultural transformation project in Thal. The government will provide Rs7.6bn for drip irrigation, solar power, water storage and other facilities across 10,000 acres in Mankera and Layyah.
The cabinet accorded approval to subsidies for Phase IV of the low-powered Green Tractor Programme, covering another 10,000 tractors.
The cabinet approved the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme, under which the Bank of Punjab will extend 40,000 loans through an allocation of Rs60bn. The chief minister rejected a proposal to impose stamp duty under the scheme.
The chief minister directed the immediate payment of outstanding dues required to make medical equipment functional in hospitals.
The cabinet approved funds to clear essential liabilities of the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department.
It also sanctioned the donation of six Clinic-on-Wheels vehicles to Gilgit-Baltistan and 15 to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Amendments to traffic fines under the Punjab Ring Road Authority were approved, with substantially higher penalties proposed for speeding, overloading, pedestrian-crossing violations and other offences.
The cabinet also approved amendments to an air-quality management project to provide electric trucks and anti-smog guns, along with funding for the expansion of public services and development schemes.
The cabinet also approved the hosting of the 14th South Asian Games.
The meeting approved relaxation of the recruitment ban for several departments and agencies, including the Suthra Punjab Authority and its agency, the Punjab Social Protection Authority, the Border Military Police and Baloch Levies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, and the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre.
Recruitment against 79 posts at the intelligence centre was approved, along with hiring for vacant posts in other departments and the creation of 70 posts under a project management unit of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department.
Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2026
