RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has approved a large road rehabilitation program to build and repair 12,000 km of roads across the province to improve transportation.
“Focus on road projects based on people’s needs and usage,” Maryam Nawaz told officials during a meeting of the Communication and Works Department. She also stressed keeping roadsides clear of encroachments by enforcing bylaws.
The chief minister reviewed an 18.5 km section of the Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop project and requested a feasibility report for an expressway connecting the Layyah-Bhakkar road to the motorway. She also discussed the Khariyan-Rawalpindi Express Road project and instructed officials to use uniform tuff tiles in cities and villages.
The Secretary of Communication and Works informed Maryam Nawaz about road projects in each division and district. He said, “Construction, expansion, and repair of 460 roads are moving forward quickly.” He added that the Quaid-e-Azam Interchange to Wagah Border Road is complete, while a drain and wall are still being built.
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The chief minister was also told that the Multan-Vehari two-way road project has been approved, with construction of an additional carriageway in progress. All road projects in Murree and the Shakargarh Road in the Kartarpur Corridor Project are finished, while the Muridke-Narowal road is still under construction.
Maryam Nawaz agreed to keep most roads 12 feet wide and to build and repair inter-district and inter-village roads in the next financial year. In a separate message on World Day for Safety and Health at Work, she said, “Every worker deserves a safe and healthy environment.”
She emphasized that a healthy workforce is key to an organization’s success and economic growth. She noted that the 2025 theme for the day focuses on how artificial intelligence and digitalization can improve workplace safety.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab is taking steps to ensure workers’ welfare, safety, and health. She called for industries and workers to follow safety rules and promote a culture that prioritizes health and safety for all.
In another news, Punjab Government to Create Central DNA Database on the directive of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Home Department has decided to establish a central DNA database in Punjab.
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The Punjab Forensic Science Agency will collect DNA records from across the province. This database will help identify suspects in serious crimes quickly. It has also been decided to record the DNA of prisoners in jails across Punjab, as well as habitual criminals.
A working group of experts has been formed under the instructions of Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal. The group will propose a model for setting up the central DNA database, which is expected to improve the justice system’s performance.
Dr. Mohammad Amjad, Director General of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency, has been appointed as the head of the working group. Other members include Director Admin Waleed Baig, Professor Dr. Muaz-ur-Rehman, and DIG Athar Waheed. The group will submit its recommendations to the Home Secretary within a week.
