LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday that drainage projects brought a marked improvement in the situation during the monsoon, as rainwater that used to remain stagnant for days, weeks and even months, is now being drained within hours.

The chief minister made these remarks during a meeting with members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) from Vehari district– Muhammad Yousaf Kaseela, Malik Nosheer Anjum Langrial, Mian Muhammad Saqib Khurshid and Muhammad Naeem Akhtar Khan Bhabbha. Political affairs, development projects and public welfare schemes were discussed during the meeting.

Speaking to the MPAs, she said the construction of the Vehari-Multan Road was the right of the people of the area, which Allah Almighty had enabled her government to construct.

She said south Punjab farmers are also benefiting from the Kisan Card scheme, while students in the region were benefiting from laptops and Honhaar Scholarships.The MPAs expressed their gratitude to the chief minister for transforming the five-decade-old, dilapidated Vehari-Multan Road into a modern dual expressway, saying it will be a game-changing project of the chief minister and a milestone for the area’s development.

They also thanked the chief minister for launching the electric bus service in Vehari, saying the service from Vehari to Burewala and Tibba Sultanpur is an excellent free transport facility for the students, women and senior citizens.

They said mega projects worth around Rs21 billion had been launched for the first time in the history of the area in the tehsils of Burewala, Mailsi and Vehari.

The beautification of Vehari Rail Bazaar had ushered the city’s urban culture into a new era, they said.

The CM said the Punjab Development Programme, for the first time, introduced a culture of uniform development across the province.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026