Work Begins in 302 Villages Under ‘Maryam Nawaz’s Model Village Program,

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore Pakistan
Lahore: Development work has commenced in 302 villages under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Model Village Program, aimed at improving rural infrastructure and living standards across Punjab.
The progress was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique. Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC), Khurram Pervez, briefed the minister on developments made so far. Special Secretary (Development) Asia Gul was also present, while Secretary Coordination of the Chief Minister’s Office joined via video link.
The minister stated that the Chief Minister had initially approved municipal schemes for 485 villages. So far, District Development Committees have approved schemes for 464 villages, while PRMSC has awarded contracts for 357 villages. Work has already begun in 302 villages, with contractors taking charge of development activities.
Zeeshan Rafique directed the establishment of a digital dashboard to monitor progress under the Model Village Program. He revealed that PRMSC has identified approximately 41,000 ponds across 22,986 villages in Punjab. Alongside the restoration of traditional ponds, water treatment plants will be installed to promote healthy aquaculture.
He further stated that the program will be implemented in phases, with 8,000 villages included in the first phase. “Efforts are being made to ensure that at least 50 villages from each provincial constituency benefit from the initial phase,” he added.
The minister said that the “Maryam Nawaz Ka Sohna Punjab” initiative will transform rural areas by providing essential facilities. Development plans include construction of streets, drainage systems, parks, and water supply schemes in 200 villages.
The meeting also decided to launch a campaign against encroachments on pond lands. Deputy commissioners have been directed to take immediate action in this regard. Additionally, a reliable database of villages is being developed under the program.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress so far, the minister emphasized the importance of maintaining quality and transparency at every stage of implementation. He reiterated that the Chief Minister aims to provide facilities in villages comparable to those available in urban areas.