Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the project to establish daycare centres for working women across the province is progressing rapidly.
The chief minister had announced the establishment of daycare centres on Women’s Day, after which the Women Development Department launched implementation of the project under the CM Special Initiative.
According to official details, a total of 650 daycare centres will be established in hospitals, educational institutions and government offices across Punjab, with Rs1 billion allocated for the project. In the first phase, a target of 390 daycare centres was set, of which 350 centres have become fully functional, while 40 are under completion.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities to complete the target of establishing 650 daycare centres by the next financial year.
Each daycare centre will be equipped with educational material, toys and LCD screens for children, while trained caregivers will be deployed to look after them. Initially, the Women Development Department will pay the salaries of attendants.
Officials said daycare centres are being established in Daanish Schools across Punjab for working women teachers and staff. In South Punjab and remote districts, daycare centres have also been set up on a priority basis in girls’ colleges and hospitals to provide working women with safe and organised childcare facilities.
An online monitoring system has also been introduced by the Women Development Department to oversee the progress and facilities of daycare centres. In Lahore, a target of 86 daycare centres has been set in government offices, educational institutions and hospitals for working women, of which 70 centres have already become functional. On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daycare centres have also been established at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and the Bar Council.
In Faisalabad, 20 daycare centres have been established in government institutions for the convenience of working women. Similarly, 21 daycare centres are functional in Bhakkar, 18 in Sheikhupura, 17 in Layyah, 15 in Khanewal, 14 in Okara, 13 in Nankana Sahib, and 12 each in Sialkot and Vehari.
In addition, 17 daycare centres have become functional in Bahawalpur, 16 in Multan, 12 in Gujranwala, and seven each in Rawalpindi and Sargodha.
Officials said the purpose of the project is to provide working women with safe, reliable and quality childcare facilities so they can perform their professional responsibilities more effectively.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the protection of working women and provision of the best possible facilities to them are among the government’s priorities.
She said daycare centres are being established across the province to provide practical support to working women for the care of their children during working hours.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to ensure the early completion of Punjab’s first Environment Observatory Project, describing it as an important step toward strengthening environmental protection and pollution control across the province.
In her message on World Environment Day, the chief minister said the Punjab government was taking practical measures to improve the environment, reduce pollution and promote a cleaner and healthier lifestyle for citizens. She ordered that legal action against the manufacture, sale and use of substandard plastic bags should continue without interruption.
Maryam Nawaz also called for accelerating environmental monitoring efforts across Punjab. She urged citizens to take part in the government’s environmental protection campaign by planting more trees, conserving natural resources and avoiding practices that contribute to pollution.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the improvement in environmental conditions during the past year, including what she described as a significant reduction in fog and better air quality in different parts of the province.
She praised Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team for launching initiatives aimed at improving environmental conditions in Lahore and other cities of Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had become the first province in Pakistan to develop an early warning system for environmental pollution. According to her, the province’s Air Quality Forecast System is monitoring key air quality indicators, while the Environment Wall is providing round the clock oversight of environmental institutions, enforcement activities and related operations.
The chief minister said enforcement operations were also continuing against smoke emitting vehicles, brick kilns violating environmental standards, crop residue burning and other major sources of pollution.
She said the Environment Observatory Project would help the government make timely decisions, monitor pollution trends and strengthen Punjab’s response to environmental challenges in a more scientific and coordinated manner.

Lahore: [Riaz Hussain ReNews Pakistan]
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq visited LDA City and reviewed in detail the ongoing development works in the project. Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue and the Chief Engineer LDA also accompanied him during the visit.
Director LDA City, the Project Director and the Director Land Acquisition Collector briefed the LDA DG on the current status of the project, development works, structure plan road and progress in different blocks. The briefing was informed that development work on the LDA City Structure Plan Road is underway, while working is also in progress for possession of additional blocks.
LDA DG Tahir Farooq welcomed the increase in construction of houses in LDA City and directed officials to ensure the provision of basic facilities to residents of the project. He instructed the relevant officers to accelerate ongoing development works and take effective measures for the immediate resolution of issues being faced.
During the visit, the LDA DG also reviewed the land acquisition process of Mauza Toor Warraich along with the Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue. He visited the one window cell established in LDA City for land acquisition of Mauza Toor Warraich and asked citizens about the issues they were facing in the process.
Tahir Farooq said citizens would be provided complete assistance in completing their documents and the payment process would be ensured without delay.
He said staff from LDA City and the Revenue Department would remain present at the one window cell during office hours to facilitate citizens and provide every possible cooperation in record provision, completion of documents and other legal procedures.