LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique said on Wednesday that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is committed to providing rural areas with the same facilities available in cities.
Speaking at a meeting, he said the Model Village Programme would be a “game-changer” for Punjab. Under the project, clean drinking water, drainage systems, and paved streets will be developed in villages. Parks for children will also be built to improve the quality of life in rural communities.
Rafique said 550 villages across Punjab have been selected in the first phase of the programme. 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 division.
He added that schemes for 414 villages in 10 divisions have already been approved, while PC-1 approval for the remaining projects will be finalized soon.
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Highlighting the importance of rural development, the minister said, “Most of Punjab’s population lives in villages. We cannot achieve progress and prosperity if they are deprived of basic facilities.”
Rafique praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, calling her the first CM with a vision to ensure equal development in urban and rural areas. He cited the Clean Punjab Programme as an example of her commitment to improving living conditions across the province.
Secretary Local Government Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian also attended the meeting, where officials reviewed the progress of the Model Village Programme in detail.
