A modern fruit and vegetable market is under construction in the Doolle Wala area of Kasur, as part of the Punjab government’s “Modern Punjab” initiative. The project aims to upgrade markets across the province with modern facilities, making trade more transparent, organized, and consumer-friendly. Planned features include transparent auctions, price regulation, improved sanitation, clean water, enhanced lighting, modern toilets, waste management, and tracking systems. Additionally, the market will include a drainage system, manhole covers, conversion of waste into biogas and poultry feed, help desk, rate boards, and truck tracking mechanisms. This initiative is part of the modernization of 188 vegetable markets in Punjab, with new markets also being established in Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Mian Channu, Sheikhupura, and Mandi Bahauddin. Some local residents and traders have raised concerns regarding the chosen location, noting that proximity to existing areas may cause traffic or other operational challenges. At the same time, the government maintains that the new market will provide the public with affordable, high-quality, and safe fruits and vegetables, while promoting organized trade and reducing monopolistic practices. Experts say that the construction of modern markets will help ensure transparency in trade, better waste management, and improved convenience for consumers, though the integration of local feedback and concerns will be important for smooth implementation.

Kasur: District Reporter, Sadaf Arshad | ReNews Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to carry out extensive beautification and urban improvement works at entry and exit points of cities across the province, placing emphasis on planned land use, public spaces, and civic infrastructure. During a special meeting on the Punjab Development Plan (PDP), the chief minister ordered thorough cleanliness and maintenance beneath overhead bridges and along major urban corridors. She instructed that green belts, landscaped areas, and play zones be developed as part of city gateway planning to improve the overall urban environment and public accessibility. She also directed the decoration and aesthetic enhancement of overhead bridges and underpasses, stressing that such structures should be integrated into broader urban design and land planning frameworks. The objective is to ensure that transport infrastructure contributes positively to city landscapes rather than creating neglected or underutilized spaces. To strengthen oversight and accountability, the chief minister ordered that all PDP projects be geo-tagged. This will allow authorities to monitor project locations, progress, and compliance with approved development plans, helping to curb unauthorized changes in land use and delays in execution. Addressing highway-related infrastructure, Maryam Nawaz Sharif sought a detailed plan for the establishment of standardized washroom facilities along provincial highways. She highlighted that such facilities are an essential component of highway land planning, particularly for long-distance travelers and transport operators. Deputy commissioners from Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Vehari, Wazirabad, Sheikhupura, and Kasur briefed the meeting on the progress of PDP projects in their districts. The briefings included updates on urban development schemes, public space improvement initiatives, and land-related infrastructure works. The chief minister instructed district administrations to ensure that development projects are implemented in line with approved land use plans, avoid encroachments, and deliver functional public amenities. She emphasized that urban development must remain people-centric, environmentally responsible, and aligned with long-term planning goals. The directives form part of Punjab’s broader urban renewal strategy aimed at improving city aesthetics, regulating land use, and strengthening civic infrastructure under the Punjab Development Plan.

Kasur: District Reporter Sadaf Arshad | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab Industrial Estate Development Management Company (PIEDMC) has received approval from the Punjab government to convert the Chunian (Kasur) Industrial Estate Project into Pakistan’s first dedicated seafood and aquaculture business park, according to official and news sources. The industrial estate is located near Bhai Pheru, approximately 40 kilometres from Lahore. The decision follows discoveries that the land originally acquired for industrial purposes, at a cost of PKR 350 million, was unsuitable for conventional industrial development. Soil testing revealed that the groundwater table is unusually high, lying just up to 10 feet below the surface or higher, making the site unfit for standard industrial operations. Subsequent studies determined that the land could be effectively utilized for aquaculture, particularly for breeding, growing, and exporting seafood species such as crabs, prawns, and shrimp. This prompted the transformation of the project from an industrial estate into Chunian Aqua Business Park, which will focus on seafood production and aquaculture-related business activities. The project also incorporates fish farming for local consumption, leveraging the land’s suitability for water-based cultivation. The seafood produced at the park will be marketed through a proposed mega fish market on Multan Road, which will serve as a new hub after relocating the existing Lahore Lohari Gate fish market. Officials emphasized that the initiative will not only optimize land that was unsuitable for industrial development but will also create opportunities in the aquaculture sector, support local employment, and contribute to the regional seafood supply chain. The Chunian Aqua Business Park represents a first-of-its-kind aquaculture-focused development in Pakistan, combining commercial seafood production with modern business park infrastructure. The project aligns with broader regional efforts to diversify land use and promote sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices in Punjab. This transformation illustrates a growing trend of repurposing land previously allocated for industry, particularly in areas where environmental and groundwater conditions limit conventional development. The initiative is expected to stimulate both local economic activity and Pakistan’s seafood exports in the coming years.