LAHORE DIVISION

Lahore: [ReNews Pakistan] The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (CBD Punjab) has completed the lease auction process for two highly important and valuable plots reserved for petrol pumps in CBD NSIT City, Pakistan’s largest and first IT City. According to officials, the auction was conducted through sealed bids. The purpose of the auction was to provide essential facilities in the IT City while promoting commercial activities in an organized and transparent manner. CBD Punjab had offered two strategically located plots on lease for the construction of petrol pumps. The first plot included in the auction is Plot No. F-12-02, measuring 5.38 kanal. Its annual base price was fixed at Rs25 million. The second plot is Plot No. F-02-02, measuring 6.77 kanal, with an annual base price of Rs30 million. According to CBD Punjab, both plots are located at key points within the IT City, where traffic flow, business activity and the demand for civic facilities are expected to increase in the future. The establishment of petrol pumps will not only facilitate citizens, investors, offices and business entities visiting the IT City, but will also enhance the commercial value of the project. The authority said CBD NSIT City is being developed as a modern hub for business, technology and investment. In this context, the provision of basic infrastructure, service areas and commercial facilities is being considered essential for the completion and functionality of the project. Officials said the auction process was completed under a transparent mechanism, while offering the plots on lease will generate recurring revenue for the authority. CBD Punjab said work would continue on various commercial and service sector projects in the future to further expand investment opportunities in the IT City.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The installation of cameras under the Safe Cities Project has been completed across all districts of Punjab. According to officials, cameras installed in 43 cities have been connected to the central system at the Safe Cities Headquarters, expanding the scope of modern monitoring and surveillance across the province. Safe Cities officials said a total of 17,000 cameras have been installed across Punjab. These cameras are being used for surveillance in urban areas, on key roads, at sensitive locations and traffic points. Officials said the system is playing an important role in crime control, traffic management, monitoring of suspicious activities and the e-challaning process. The foundation of the project was laid during the tenure of caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while it has been completed across all districts under the current Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Officials said the purpose of the project is to connect law enforcement agencies in Punjab with modern technology, support crime prevention and make the public safety system more effective. Safe Cities officials said the next phase of the project is also being launched, under which more than 10,000 additional cameras will be installed in 98 tehsils of Punjab. This phase will be completed at comparatively lower cost, and according to officials, the new approach is expected to reduce the project cost by nearly 50 percent. Officials further said that in the final phase, camera installation will also be completed at the union council level so that the surveillance system is not limited to major cities or tehsil headquarters, but is extended to the local level as well. The step is expected to improve security monitoring in smaller cities, towns and important rural centres. According to officials, private cameras across Punjab are also being linked with the Safe Cities network. The move is aimed at bringing public and private surveillance systems into an integrated network so that, in case of any incident, suspicious movement or traffic violation, relevant authorities can access information without delay. Safe Cities officials said the completion of the project would bring a significant improvement in security, traffic control and civic surveillance across Punjab, while modern cameras and the central monitoring system would also help strengthen the operational capacity of police and other institutions.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the project to establish daycare centres for working women across the province is progressing rapidly. The chief minister had announced the establishment of daycare centres on Women’s Day, after which the Women Development Department launched implementation of the project under the CM Special Initiative. According to official details, a total of 650 daycare centres will be established in hospitals, educational institutions and government offices across Punjab, with Rs1 billion allocated for the project. In the first phase, a target of 390 daycare centres was set, of which 350 centres have become fully functional, while 40 are under completion. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities to complete the target of establishing 650 daycare centres by the next financial year. Each daycare centre will be equipped with educational material, toys and LCD screens for children, while trained caregivers will be deployed to look after them. Initially, the Women Development Department will pay the salaries of attendants. Officials said daycare centres are being established in Daanish Schools across Punjab for working women teachers and staff. In South Punjab and remote districts, daycare centres have also been set up on a priority basis in girls’ colleges and hospitals to provide working women with safe and organised childcare facilities. An online monitoring system has also been introduced by the Women Development Department to oversee the progress and facilities of daycare centres. In Lahore, a target of 86 daycare centres has been set in government offices, educational institutions and hospitals for working women, of which 70 centres have already become functional. On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daycare centres have also been established at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and the Bar Council. In Faisalabad, 20 daycare centres have been established in government institutions for the convenience of working women. Similarly, 21 daycare centres are functional in Bhakkar, 18 in Sheikhupura, 17 in Layyah, 15 in Khanewal, 14 in Okara, 13 in Nankana Sahib, and 12 each in Sialkot and Vehari. In addition, 17 daycare centres have become functional in Bahawalpur, 16 in Multan, 12 in Gujranwala, and seven each in Rawalpindi and Sargodha. Officials said the purpose of the project is to provide working women with safe, reliable and quality childcare facilities so they can perform their professional responsibilities more effectively. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the protection of working women and provision of the best possible facilities to them are among the government’s priorities. She said daycare centres are being established across the province to provide practical support to working women for the care of their children during working hours.