Lahore: Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz envisions extending the same facilities to villages that are available in urban centres, as the provincial government launches its Model Village Program.
Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Rafique said the initiative is expected to be a “game-changer” for rural Punjab. Under the program, water supply and drainage schemes will be developed in villages, dirt streets will be paved, and children’s parks will be established.
In the first phase, 550 villages across Punjab have been selected for transformation. This includes 64 villages in Rawalpindi division, 51 in Lahore, 64 in Gujranwala, 53 in Gujrat, 49 in Sahiwal, 51 in Dera Ghazi Khan, 61 in Bahawalpur, 37 in Faisalabad, 45 in Sargodha, and 75 in Multan.
Rafique said development schemes have already been approved for 414 villages, while approval for the remaining plans is being expedited. He stressed that sustainable progress cannot be achieved without ensuring basic amenities for the majority of the province’s population that lives in rural areas.
“Maryam Nawaz is the first Punjab chief minister with a vision of providing equal facilities to both cities and villages. The Clean Punjab programme is a clear example of this approach,” Rafique noted.
The meeting, also attended by Secretary Local Government Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian, included a detailed review of the schemes prepared under the Model Village Program.
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