Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken a significant step toward agricultural development and strengthening the rural economy by officially inaugurating the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar Scheme” portal. The initiative aims to provide agricultural land to landless rural families across the province, enabling them to earn a dignified livelihood while boosting agricultural productivity.
According to officials, the scheme carries an estimated value of around Rs 160 billion. Under the programme, 13,812 agricultural lots have been allocated across various districts of Punjab, benefiting approximately 88,780 families. In addition, 16,685 lots in the Cholistan region will provide employment opportunities to 101,111 families.
Each successful applicant will be allotted agricultural land valued between Rs 2.5 million and Rs 4 million for cultivation purposes. Furthermore, a one time settlement and cultivation grant ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 250,000 per acre will also be provided to facilitate initial farming activities.
The project has identified over 124,000 acres of agricultural land, selected carefully based on water availability and soil fertility. The land will be granted to successful farmers for a period of 10 years, strictly for agricultural use only, with no permission for permanent construction.
Applications will be accepted through the official portal from May 2 to May 18, while the appeal process will remain open from June 1 to June 8. The final list of successful applicants will be issued on June 19, and land distribution will begin on June 30.
In case of a large number of applicants, selection will be carried out through a lottery system to ensure transparency. To ensure effective monitoring, each land allotment will be linked with an agriculture officer and an intern, while assistant commissioners and agriculture department teams will conduct biannual inspections to review farming activities.
The project is being widely regarded as a major step toward strengthening the rural economy, creating employment opportunities for the unemployed, and increasing agricultural output across the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Central Business District (CBD) Punjab has reported significant progress on its major urban development initiatives, with CBD Walk moving ahead of its scheduled timeline while enhancement work continues at CBD Lake.
During a recent site visit, CBD Punjab CEO Imran Amin inspected construction activities at both locations. He was accompanied by senior officials from project management, engineering, construction, and architecture teams. The visit aimed to evaluate the pace of development, quality of construction, and overall execution of the projects.
CBD Walk is a premium, pedestrian focused commercial strip located in the CBD Quaid District of Lahore. Developed by CBD Punjab, it is designed as a high end destination for dining and retail. The project features 16 premium 4 marla shell and core commercial units situated alongside a scenic 2 acre lake, offering both lake facing and park facing options. It will host around 32 eateries, along with landscaped spaces and dedicated parking facilities for cars and motorcycles. Officials briefed that work on CBD Walk is advancing faster than anticipated, reflecting improved coordination and efficient on-ground execution. At the same time, maintenance and upgrade activities at CBD Lake are in progress, focusing on sustainability and long term operational functionality.
Plans are also underway to install dancing fountains at the lake, aimed at enhancing the site’s visual appeal and enriching the public experience. Authorities emphasized that modern design standards are being strictly followed, particularly in terms of exterior finishes and the selection of construction materials.
The development is being shaped as a contemporary urban space that balances functionality with aesthetics, offering a modern environment for residents and visitors alike.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress, Imran Amin underscored the importance of maintaining high construction standards and ensuring timely project completion. He added that these initiatives are aligned with the provincial government’s broader vision of developing high quality urban infrastructure in Lahore.
CBD Punjab officials noted that the steady progress reflects the authority’s commitment to delivering sustainable, well planned developments that contribute positively to the city’s economic growth and social landscape.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), in its 71st meeting of the current fiscal year, approved 12 major development schemes with a cumulative estimated cost of Rs31 billion, signaling a continued focus on infrastructure expansion, healthcare improvement, and long-term transport planning in Punjab.
The meeting, held in Lahore, was chaired by Dr Naeem Rauf, Chairman of the Planning and Development Board Punjab. It was attended by senior officials including Secretary P&D Rafaqat Ali, Chief Economist of P&DB, board members, and representatives from various departments.
Among the approved infrastructure projects, a major road development scheme includes the widening and improvement of the route from Gujranwala Bypass (Awan Chowk) to M-2 Khanqah Dogran Interchange via Anjianwala Link and Nowshera Virkan. The 66 kilometre project in Gujranwala district (Phase-I) has been approved at a cost of Rs1.95 billion. Another key project involves the construction of a 4.10-kilometre dual carriageway linking Fateh Jang/Dhullian/Talagang Road to Khararal in Attock district, with an estimated cost of Rs2.24 billion. Additionally, the widening of Kashmiri Bazaar has been approved at a revised cost of over Rs6.03 billion.
In the healthcare sector, the PDWP approved the expansion of critical services in tertiary care hospitals across Punjab, including the addition of 150 ICU beds equipped with ventilators and essential accessories, at a cost of Rs1.49 billion.
Several projects under the PPIC-III programme were also revised and approved for major cities, including Rawalpindi (Rs5.86 billion), Faisalabad (Rs4.83 billion), Gujranwala (Rs4.51 billion), Multan (Rs924 million), and Sargodha (Rs1.04 billion), reflecting the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
The meeting also approved feasibility studies for future rail development. These include seed money allocations for establishing regional railway tracks across Punjab (Rs1.39 billion) and a high-speed rail project between Lahore and Rawalpindi (Rs823.99 million), highlighting the province’s long-term vision for modern and efficient transportation systems.
Furthermore, the Punjab Rural Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Project was discussed, particularly regarding the provision of incentive allowances, as part of broader efforts to improve rural infrastructure and public services.
Officials described the approvals as part of the provincial government’s ongoing commitment to balanced development, improved service delivery, and sustainable economic growth across Punjab.