Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has offered the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank partnership opportunities in major housing, transport, water, sanitation and urban development projects across the province.
The offer was made during a meeting in Lahore with AIIB Chief Investment Officer Konstantin Limitovskiy. AIIB Director General Xiaohong Yang was also part of the delegation. The meeting focused on potential institutional cooperation in development initiatives aimed at improving public services, urban infrastructure and climate-sensitive planning in Punjab.
During the meeting, the chief minister briefed the AIIB delegation on ongoing provincial development programmes and highlighted the government’s priority projects.
She said Punjab was moving ahead with a broad reform and development agenda focused on housing access, modern transport, clean water supply, sanitation, healthcare and urban governance.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif particularly mentioned the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing programme, describing it as one of the province’s flagship public welfare initiatives. She said the programme had delivered more than 100,000 homes within one year, providing housing support to families across Punjab.
The chief minister also briefed the delegation on electric bus and e-bike programmes being introduced to promote environmentally friendly transport. She said Punjab was working to modernise public transport through cleaner mobility options and better urban connectivity, while reducing pressure on existing transport systems.
Water and sanitation projects also came under discussion during the meeting. Maryam Nawaz said Punjab was already cooperating with AIIB in Lahore’s water and sanitation sector through an MoU aimed at improving infrastructure. She said planned projects included wastewater drainage systems, water treatment facilities and other urban service improvements.
According to the chief minister, Punjab’s development approach is based on data-driven planning, climate-sensitive governance and improved service delivery. She said the provincial government wants to expand partnerships with international development institutions for sustainable infrastructure and long-term public benefit.
The AIIB delegation and the Punjab government expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in infrastructure and development sectors. Both sides agreed that housing, clean transport, water, sanitation and urban development offered important opportunities for future collaboration across the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab’s grand Eid cleanliness operation continued on the second day of Eid ul Azha, setting new standards of sanitation across the province. In the first two days of Eid, a total of 222,000 tons of waste was collected across Punjab.
According to official figures, Suthra Punjab vehicles covered 3.228 million kilometres across the province during the first two days. The cleanliness operation continued in full swing on the second day of Eid, during which more than 112,000 tons of offal and animal remains were disposed of.
In 41 districts of Punjab, offal and animal waste were collected and transported to designated waste points on the second day of Eid as well. Roads, markets and streets in different cities were washed with phenyl, while rose water was also sprayed to freshen the environment.
According to the data, Suthra Punjab vehicles covered more than 1.346 million kilometres on the second day of Eid, while roads stretching over 1,054 kilometres were washed across the province.
On the instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister, commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners remained present in the field and monitored the cleanliness operation. Offal and waste identified through Safe City Authority cameras and drone cameras were immediately removed and disposed of.
Officials said complaints related to cleanliness and the presence of animal waste were addressed promptly in every district of Punjab. Streets and roads in Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan and Sargodha appeared visibly clean.
In Sialkot, Kasur, Pakpattan, Murree and Vehari, roads were washed with phenyl and sprayed with rose water. Cleaning of streets, neighbourhoods and sacrifice sites was also completed in Wazirabad, Rajanpur, Multan, Attock, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar.
New cleanliness records were also set in Bhakkar, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Chakwal on Eid ul Azha. In Narowal, Jhelum, Jhang, Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan, Hafizabad and Gujrat, the hard work of Suthra Punjab workers helped keep the cleanliness operation running effectively.

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Lahore Development Authority has intensified action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters. On the instructions of LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing launched a major operation in different areas under LDA control and sealed a total of 62 properties.
LDA teams carried out operations in Gulberg, Gulshan Ravi, Canal Road and Allama Iqbal Town. According to officials, 19 properties were sealed in Gulberg over illegal commercial use and non-payment of commercial fees, while action was taken against 23 properties in Gulshan Ravi and on Canal Road.
Similarly, during the recovery operation, 20 properties were also sealed in Allama Iqbal Town. According to the LDA, the action was taken against buildings that were either being used illegally for commercial purposes or had outstanding commercial fees payable.
The sealed properties include private schools, restaurants, food points, beauty salons, clinics, grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, auto workshops, shops, offices and other commercial units.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner One Asaduz Zaman. DG LDA Tahir Farooq said that indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters would continue. He made it clear that strict action would be taken against properties violating regulations in areas controlled by the LDA.