Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has decided to establish biodiversity corridors to promote environmental protection across the province. Under this initiative, district agencies working under the Horticulture Authority will develop such corridors in their respective cities to help preserve natural habitats and improve the environment.
According to Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmed, biodiversity corridors are strips of vegetation, hedges, or uncut land that connect fragmented natural habitats. These corridors enable wildlife to move freely between parks and باغات, while also providing better access to food and breeding opportunities.
In this regard, instructions have been issued to the managing directors of all district horticulture agencies to promote plantation of native trees, including sheesham, mulberry, and banyan. Additionally, the development of new green spaces in urban areas has also been emphasized.
Under the plan, shade-giving trees will be planted near bus stops to provide relief to commuters. Furthermore, students from educational institutions will be involved in environmental awareness campaigns, and voluntary tree plantation drives will be encouraged.
Officials stated that these measures aim to address the growing challenges of smog and air pollution in the province and promote a healthier environment.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
Deputy Commissioner Lahore, Captain (R) Muhammad Ali Ijaz, visited Ravi Tehsil, accompanied by the Chief Officer MCL, Assistant Commissioner Ravi, and other relevant officials.
During the visit, he inspected the area of Union Council 6, Latif Chowk. On this occasion, the Assistant Commissioner Ravi gave a detailed briefing on the provision of municipal services and overall performance in the tehsil.
In the meeting, effective sanitation arrangements were finalized, while various measures were considered to address long standing drainage and sewerage issues on an urgent and sustainable basis.
The Deputy Commissioner directed that open manholes be covered immediately to ensure public safety. He also instructed the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) to improve the overall cleanliness situation across the district.
Furthermore, he emphasized ensuring safety measures at development project sites and strengthening coordination among all relevant departments to achieve better results.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to submit weekly progress reports on the Punjab Development Programme, aiming to ensure transparency and timely completion of projects across the province.
Chairing a special meeting via video link, the Chief Minister instructed the Local Government and Community Development Department to provide detailed and updates on ongoing development schemes in 51 cities. She emphasized that consistent monitoring is essential to maintain the pace and quality of work.
The meeting was informed that multiple development projects are currently underway across all 51 cities. To strengthen municipal services, the government has planned the provision of essential machinery, including desilting equipment, sectional machines, 45 jetting machines, and 100 dewatering sets.
Maryam Nawaz also issued strict instructions to maintain cleanliness standards, directing that waste containers and garbage drums be kept clean at all times as part of improved sanitation measures.
In a significant move, the Chief Minister announced that, for the first time in Punjab, an HDPE pipeline lining plant will be established, with work set to begin on April 20. A similar facility will also be set up in South Punjab to enhance water and sewerage infrastructure.
During the session, officials presented a visual review of development initiatives in each tehsil through a project gallery. A live dashboard was also used to provide a comprehensive overview of both financial expenditures and physical progress on all ongoing schemes.
Highlighting the government’s performance, the Chief Minister stated that the current administration has completed more development projects in the past two years than were achieved in the previous five years.
She further stressed that with the early completion of WASA projects, the government will now shift its full focus towards urban beautification and improved living standards across Punjab.