Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that model agriculture malls will be established in all districts of the province in phases, saying every possible step will be taken to facilitate farmers in Punjab. She said better days had arrived for farmers and Punjab’s agriculture sector was entering a new era of modern facilities.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that for the first time in Punjab, farmers were being provided agricultural needs, advisory services and modern facilities near their villages under one roof. According to her, the government’s objective is to move farmers away from traditional difficulties and connect them with a modern, organised and well facilitated agricultural system.
According to the report, the concept of a One Stop Agriculture Input Market has been introduced in Punjab under the chief minister’s farmer friendly vision. Under this initiative, farmers will have access to quality agricultural inputs, fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, modern agricultural equipment, expert guidance and other facilities at one place.
Model agriculture malls have become fully functional in four districts of Punjab, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Sargodha. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities to take immediate steps for the establishment of model agriculture malls in 10 more districts.
Under the government’s plan, model agriculture malls will also be set up in Faisalabad, Jhang, Okara, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan, Attock and Mianwali, among other districts. The chief minister made it clear that the project would be expanded across Punjab in phases so that both small and large farmers could benefit equally from government facilities.
At the model agriculture malls, farmers will also be able to rent the latest agricultural machinery. This will allow small farmers to access equipment according to their needs instead of purchasing expensive machinery. According to officials, the initiative will help reduce production costs, improve crop yields and introduce modern practices in the agricultural process.
The management and operation of the agriculture malls are being carried out in partnership with the private sector to ensure transparent, effective and reliable services for farmers. The government says the model is aimed at combining official guidance with private sector efficiency in the agriculture sector.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has launched a province wide operation against illegal industrial units blamed for contributing to air pollution and recurring smog, as authorities intensify enforcement measures ahead of the winter season.
The campaign has been initiated on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif under a zero tolerance policy against environmental violations. According to officials, more than 100 illegal industrial units have been demolished across different parts of Punjab during the past 20 days.
Authorities say the latest operation marks a shift from routine sealing of illegal units to their permanent demolition, with the aim of eliminating pollution sources rather than allowing them to resume operations after temporary closure.
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the crackdown is being carried out across districts, tehsils and union councils through a coordinated enforcement mechanism. She said all relevant departments have been directed to take indiscriminate action against units operating in violation of environmental laws.
In Lahore, monitoring has been expanded to the union council level, where enforcement teams are conducting surveys in residential, commercial and industrial areas. So far, more than 200 union councils and housing societies in the provincial capital have been surveyed as part of the campaign.
According to the minister, joint inspection teams include officials from the Environment Protection Department, union council secretaries and housing society managers.
These teams are identifying illegal industrial activity, particularly units operating inside populated areas and housing societies.
She said initial inspections have not confirmed the presence of illegal fat-melting units in the locations surveyed so far. However, the monitoring process will continue, and all suspicious sites will be checked through both ground inspections and aerial verification.
To strengthen transparency and improve enforcement, the government is also using drone surveillance to verify inspection findings. Officials believe this will help prevent concealment of illegal industrial operations and ensure more accurate reporting from the field.
The Punjab government has also appealed to citizens to actively support the campaign by reporting pollution-causing activities through the official helpline 1373. Authorities say public complaints will play an important role in identifying illegal units operating beyond the reach of routine inspections.
Officials said the anti-smog operation will continue in the coming weeks as part of a broader environmental strategy to reduce industrial emissions, improve air quality and protect public health in major urban centres of the province.
Punjab has repeatedly faced severe smog episodes in recent years, particularly during the winter months, when industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust and weather conditions combine to create hazardous air quality. The government says strict action against illegal polluting units is now a key part of its long-term smog control plan.

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Ring Road project has entered its final stage, with officials confirming that around 90 percent of construction work on the major transport corridor has been completed.
The PKR 47 billion project, one of the most important infrastructure schemes for Rawalpindi and the surrounding region, is now moving close to completion as the June 30 deadline approaches. According to officials, major civil works on the 38.3 kilometre route have largely been finished, while work on the remaining components is continuing at a steady pace.
Authorities said asphalt laying has been completed on almost the entire corridor, while finishing work on the remaining sections is underway. The pending tasks include carpeting of nearly eight kilometres of road, completion of drainage systems, right of way finishing, installation of roadside safety features, and work on streetlights and lampposts.
Officials from the Rawalpindi Development Authority and the divisional administration said the physical progress of the project is substantial, although some finishing components may go slightly beyond the original timeline. They maintained that construction activity is now in its final phase and efforts are being made to complete the remaining work as soon as possible.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri said the remaining portion of the project is expected to be completed by the end of June. He added that installation of streetlights is also in progress and is likely to be finalised within a month.
However, officials clarified that completion of construction work will not automatically mean the immediate opening of the road for public traffic. A provincial government team will conduct a final inspection to assess whether the corridor is ready for inauguration and regular traffic movement.
The Rawalpindi Ring Road stretches from Baanth on GT Road to Thalian on the motorway. The project includes five interchanges at Baanth, Maira Mohra, Khasala, Kolian Parr and Thalian. It also includes multiple bridges, overpasses and supporting road infrastructure aimed at improving regional connectivity.
The Frontier Works Organisation is working as the main contractor, while the Rawalpindi Development Authority is the executing agency. The project also involved the acquisition of 8,992 kanals of land at a cost of PKR 6.7 billion.
Originally planned as a 68 kilometre route, the Ring Road project was later redesigned to 38.3 kilometres following a review process. Construction resumed after approvals from successive governments, making the current phase one of the most advanced stages of the long awaited project.
Officials believe the project will play a major role in reducing traffic pressure in Rawalpindi, improving access to the motorway, facilitating freight movement and supporting future development along the corridor. An industrial zone has also been planned along the route, although related development components will depend on further policy and administrative decisions.
Once completed and cleared for traffic, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to become a key transport link for the twin cities and surrounding areas, offering an alternative route for heavy vehicles and improving connectivity between GT Road, the motorway network and emerging development zones.