The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has launched a three-year economic transformation program aimed at attracting investment, increasing exports, and creating jobs across the province.
The Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation (PIVOT) program, launched alongside the STEP portal, envisages government investment of Rs.1,089bn and private-sector investment of Rs.906bn.
The provincial government expects the initiative to increase exports by $6.8bn, create 162,000 jobs and improve the quality of life of one million people over the next three years.
Addressing the launch ceremony, attended by State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, members of the Pakistan Business Council and prominent industrialists and investors, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said PIVOT would drive economic transformation across industry, agriculture, tourism, skills development and technology.
She said the plan, covering 2026-29, was designed to expand economic opportunities, strengthen industrial capacity, attract investment and promote export-led growth.
Under the initiative, Rs.753.7bn has been allocated to strengthen Punjab’s industrial sector, while a target has been set to train 402,060 people over three years.
The program also envisages concessional loans worth Rs.300bn for industrial projects at interest rates ranging from zero to five per cent.
The chief minister said the plan would address challenges facing businesses, including limited access to finance, inadequate industrial infrastructure, skills shortages, regulatory hurdles and high energy costs.
Measures would include machinery duty refunds and support for solar energy and battery energy storage systems.
Four agro-processing parks are planned in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar. They will focus on fruit processing, cold storage, grading and other value-added activities aimed at improving farmers’ access to markets.
The program will also support manufacturing sectors including garments, sports goods, leather and footwear, pharmaceuticals, fans and ceramics.
Other agricultural measures include modernizing farm machinery, improving storage facilities, expanding meat and dairy processing and supporting disease prevention and access to finance for farmers.
The chief minister said aquaculture projects would promote shrimp farming, improve fisheries infrastructure and increase export-oriented production.
Tourism is another key component, with investment opportunities planned around historical and religious sites, Lahore’s night-time economy, the Potohar region and Cholistan.
The skills and technology program will focus on equipping young people with expertise suited to domestic industries and international labor markets.
It includes digital skills training, IT internships, internationally recognized certifications, start-up incubation and entrepreneurship support.
CM Punjab said reforms would also cover public-private partnerships, industrial land policy and labor regulations to make it easier for businesses to operate.
She added that investor facilitation and transparent monitoring would be central to the program’s implementation.
The chief minister said economic reforms under the program would also cover public-private partnerships, industrial land policy and business-friendly labor regulations. She stressed that investor facilitation and transparent monitoring would be central to ensuring effective implementation.
