Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has digitally inaugurated Nestlé’s biomass steam plant at its Sheikhupura factory as part of efforts to combat environmental pollution and smog across the province.
The state of the art facility has been established with an investment of approximately $4.5 million.
Officials said the environment friendly project would provide a sustainable alternative to the burning of crop residue and promote energy generation through the efficient use of agricultural waste.
The plant will use nearly 72,000 tonnes of agricultural residue as fuel every year and has the capacity to produce 30 tonnes of steam per hour.
The project is expected to generate annual fuel savings of around $2.15 million while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 24,345 tonnes per year. The biomass steam plant forms an important part of Nestlé’s environmental sustainability programme.
By discouraging the open burning of crop residue, the project is expected to help improve air quality and support efforts to reduce smog.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also given a detailed briefing on Nestlé’s operations in Pakistan and its environmental initiatives.
She appreciated the company’s public service and environmental efforts, describing the biomass steam plant as a notable example of circular economy practices and renewable energy development in Pakistan.
The chief minister said the initiative was fully aligned with the Punjab government’s priorities of environmental protection, cleaner air and sustainable industrial development.
She added that the provincial government would continue to extend full support for climate improvement initiatives and that its doors remained open to Nestlé and all other organisations working for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Faisalabad : ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan’s first Food and Agriculture Museum is being established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, with the Punjab Higher Education Commission expected to provide Rs 300 million in phased funding for the landmark project.
The museum will preserve Pakistan’s agricultural heritage while presenting the development of farming practices from traditional methods to modern, technology driven agriculture. It is also expected to serve as an educational and research facility for students, farmers, scientists and the general public.
The project was reviewed during the third Joint Technical Meeting chaired by Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zulfiqar Ali welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of preserving the country’s agricultural history for future generations.
Speaking at the meeting, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that reconnecting people with their cultural and agricultural roots had become increasingly important as rapid modernisation continued to weaken public awareness of historical farming practices.
He said museums were not merely places for displaying historical objects but also served as centres of education, innovation and public awareness. Such institutions, he added, help preserve the scientific, cultural and social development of farming communities alongside traditional agricultural tools and artefacts.
Professor Dr Khan also recalled the historical role of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He said the institution was originally established as the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute in Lyallpur on the recommendations of the colonial-era Famine Commission to promote modern agricultural education and improve farming in the subcontinent.
According to him, the museum is expected to receive Rs 300 million through the Punjab Higher Education Commission under the Annual Development Programme. The funding will be released in phases and used for the development and establishment of various museum galleries.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zulfiqar Ali said preserving agricultural heritage was essential for ensuring that traditional farming knowledge, practices and experiences were transferred to younger generations.
The proposed museum will be the first institution of its kind in Pakistan and will cover an indoor display area of approximately 55,000 square feet.
Its galleries will document the evolution of agriculture across the country and display indigenous seed varieties, traditional wooden ploughs and other historic farming equipment. The museum will also feature greenhouse models, genomic breeding techniques and digital precision farming technologies.
Through a combination of historical exhibits and modern agricultural innovations, the museum is expected to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of how Pakistan’s farming sector has evolved and how emerging technologies could shape its future.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Acting on the directives of Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq, the LDA Town Planning Wing carried out a large-scale enforcement operation against illegal commercial activities and commercial fee defaulters in various LDA-controlled areas of Lahore, sealing a total of 112 properties.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Town Planner I Asad uz Zaman and covered several major localities, including Gulberg, Faisal Town, Samanabad, Gujjarpura, Poonch Road and Allama Iqbal Town.
According to the LDA, 28 properties in Gulberg and Faisal Town were sealed for the unauthorised commercial use of residential buildings. In Samanabad, Gujjarpura and Poonch Road, enforcement teams sealed 69 properties over illegal commercial use and the non-payment of commercialisation fees.
Meanwhile, during a separate recovery operation in Allama Iqbal Town, the authority sealed 15 additional properties belonging to commercial fee defaulters.
The sealed premises included a wide range of businesses and establishments, such as private schools, beauty salons, cafes, restaurants, food outlets, grocery stores, pharmacies, retail shops, car showrooms, offices and other commercial facilities operating in violation of LDA regulations.
The Lahore Development Authority stated that the ongoing campaign is part of its efforts to curb illegal commercialisation, improve urban planning compliance and ensure that all commercial property owners fulfil their legal obligations, including the payment of commercialisation charges.
Director General Tahir Farooq reaffirmed that indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and commercial fee defaulters will continue across all LDA-controlled areas, stressing that no violations of planning regulations would be tolerated regardless of the nature of the business or its location.