LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reaffirmed her government’s commitment to improving living standards in rural areas, saying villages across the province were being equipped with modern facilities to promote sustainable development and strengthen the rural economy.
In a message issued on the occasion of the World Rural Development Day, the chief minister paid tribute to rural communities for their vital contribution to national development, agricultural production and food security.
She said a strong rural economy was essential for a prosperous Pakistan, adding that villages had always formed the backbone of the country’s social and economic fabric.
“From their central role in agriculture to preserving centuries-old traditions, villages represent the true spirit of our society,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government was committed to empowering rural communities by expanding access to education, healthcare, vocational training and sustainable employment opportunities.
She added that the provincial administration was prioritising the provision of clean drinking water, modern agricultural practices, quality education, healthcare services and basic infrastructure in rural areas.
Highlighting the government’s development initiatives, the chief minister said the Suthra Punjab Programme had, for the first time, been fully extended to villages alongside urban centres, while electric bus services were also being introduced in rural areas.
She said the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar scheme had been launched exclusively for unemployed people living in villages to create livelihood opportunities through agriculture.
Ms Nawaz further said work was under way on the Model Village Project, aimed at providing basic urban-style amenities in more than 2,400 villages. The initiative includes the installation of water filtration plants, development of parks and construction of children’s play areas.
She added that more than 3,300 kilometres of rural roads were currently being constructed or rehabilitated through over 1,500 projects under the Local Roads Programme.
The chief minister also said the Sohna Pind Punjab De programme was focused on paving village streets, restoring roads, establishing children’s parks and carrying out tree plantation campaigns to improve the rural environment.
