Punjab Province

Sargodha : ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a development package worth nearly PKR 1 billion for the construction, rehabilitation and improvement of major roads across Sargodha district, aimed at improving transportation infrastructure and strengthening connectivity between key urban and rural areas.
The approved projects have been initiated under the Own Source Revenue (OSR) initiative and include road upgrades, bridge rehabilitation and improvements to important market and link roads in Sargodha and Shahpur. The package consists of eight development schemes designed to improve road conditions, ease traffic flow and enhance access to commercial and residential areas.
Under the approved plan, several important roads in Sargodha city will undergo construction and rehabilitation work. These include Dairy Road, Azad Road, New Urdu Bazaar Road, Grain Market Road, Pilot School Road and Ara Market Road, with a combined estimated cost of approximately PKR 175.79 million.
The rehabilitation of the Khayam Chowk Overhead Bridge has also been approved as part of the package, with an estimated allocation of PKR 88.981 million. The project is expected to improve road safety and traffic movement around one of the city’s key junctions.
Another major scheme involves the rehabilitation of the connecting road from Johar Colony Road to Fatima Jinnah Road through Gillwala Railway Crossing and Haripurah Bridge, which has been approved at an estimated cost of PKR 228.674 million. The project will improve connectivity between important residential and commercial areas.
The provincial government has also approved rehabilitation work on the Shama Chowk–Stadium Gate Road and its link road to Cheema Heart Centre, with an estimated cost of PKR 164.645 million. The scheme aims to improve access to key public facilities and reduce travel difficulties for commuters.
Additional road improvement projects include the rehabilitation of Main Bazaar Bhagtanwala Road and the Lahore Road–Bhirowal–Kot Momin Link Road, with a combined estimated cost of around PKR 127.715 million.
In Shahpur, the Jail Road–Shahpur Saddar Road will be upgraded under a project costing approximately PKR 98.888 million, while the rehabilitation of Farooka Road to Sial Dhulaka Road has also been approved with an estimated allocation of PKR 56.684 million.
The approved development portfolio covers city roads, market-area routes, bridges and inter-district connections. Officials stated that these infrastructure improvements are part of broader efforts to enhance mobility, support economic activity and improve road networks across Sargodha district.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
Lahore has approved 17 development schemes covering wastewater management, neighbourhood roads and revenue related infrastructure, expanding the city’s programme for improving municipal services and local urban connectivity.
The schemes were approved by the Divisional Development Working Committee chaired by Lahore Division Commissioner Noman Yousaf. The approved portfolio includes projects of the Water and Sanitation Agency, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore and the Board of Revenue.
Seven proposals submitted by WASA relate to the procurement of wastewater pumps for disposal stations in different parts of Lahore.
According to the WASA administration, the new pumps will be installed at various disposal stations to strengthen the wastewater disposal system and improve operational capacity.
The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore secured approval for eight schemes focused on the rehabilitation of internal and neighbourhood roads across the city.
The road schemes are expected to improve local connectivity and the physical condition of neighbourhood infrastructure, an important component of urban development and access to residential and commercial areas.
Development schemes relating to the Board of Revenue were also presented before the committee, with deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners from the four districts of Lahore Division briefing officials on the proposed works.
The committee reviewed the schemes before granting approval, while the commissioner specifically examined the road rehabilitation projects proposed by MCL.
Officials concerned have been directed to complete development works within the prescribed timelines and maintain required quality standards during execution.
The combination of wastewater infrastructure upgrades and neighbourhood road rehabilitation is expected to strengthen basic municipal services in Lahore, particularly in areas where drainage capacity and deteriorating internal roads affect everyday mobility and urban development.
For residential and commercial neighbourhoods, improved wastewater disposal and better road access can also support a more functional urban environment by strengthening basic infrastructure required for future development.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The federal government has finalised a strategic action plan to strengthen Pakistan’s national cyber security framework, placing the protection of critical infrastructure, essential government services and national digital assets among its central priorities.
The plan seeks to bring federal and provincial governments, key sectors, regulators and other relevant stakeholders under an integrated national cyber security structure capable of responding to major cyber incidents and potential cyber warfare.
The Cyber Security Working Committee has outlined a series of priority measures including operationalisation of the Federal Computer Emergency Response Team, activation of provincial CERTs, preparation of a five year national cyber security strategy, development of a cyber warfare escalation matrix and establishment of a dedicated framework for protecting Critical Information Infrastructure.
The plan also envisages a specialised service structure for cyber security and emerging technology professionals to strengthen the government’s technical capacity and retain skilled personnel.
Recent official deliberations have also focused on implementing the Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026 at both federal and provincial levels and strengthening coordination among national, provincial and sectoral CERTs.
Under the proposed governance framework, federal and provincial institutions will be brought under a more unified cyber security system to improve oversight of national digital assets, cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
A major objective is to strengthen the protection of Critical Information Infrastructure and essential government services through common security controls, compliance mechanisms and coordinated monitoring.
The government also plans to establish a national response mechanism for cyber incidents, enabling institutions to coordinate more effectively during large scale attacks and cyber related emergencies.
As part of preparations for cyber warfare scenarios, an escalation matrix will define how threats are assessed and how incidents are elevated to relevant authorities according to their severity and potential national impact.
The broader strategy also focuses on developing cyber security skills through workforce development and educational reforms while introducing stronger procedures for the secure procurement, installation, use and retirement of technology within the public sector.
The action plan has been structured around six broad areas including governance, compliance, resource alignment, cyber incident response and crisis management, security assessment and supply chain security.
These areas are also reflected in the recently reported 90 day Cyber Security Strategic Action Plan being pursued by the federal government to address immediate weaknesses in the national cyber security system.
The Cyber Security Working Committee operates under the National Committee for Information and Communications Security and is tasked with improving coordination between national institutions, CERTs, federal and provincial ministries and other key stakeholders.
The committee is to be led by the Director General of the National Computer Emergency Response Team, with representation from the Cabinet Division, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan Digital Authority, NADRA, National Telecommunication Corporation and National Information Technology Board.
Representatives of provincial governments, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, security institutions, the Ministry of Interior and experts from relevant sectors are also expected to contribute to the national cyber security coordination mechanism.
The overall framework is intended to create a unified national capability for protecting critical digital infrastructure, maintaining essential public services and responding to cyber crises that could affect government operations, communications or other strategic systems.