The 37th meeting of the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday, approved the province’s ambitious new development roadmap, the Industrial Development and Export Programme, which is expected to attract Rs1,995 billion in investment and create more than 162,000 employment opportunities across the province.
The meeting, held in Lahore on October 19, 2026, began with Fateha for the officers and soldiers who embraced martyrdom in operations against terrorists. Prayers were also offered for the departed soul of the mother-in-law of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, according to official statements released after the session.
The flagship announcement of the meeting was the presentation of the PIVOT programme by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who outlined its features before the cabinet. The programme is designed to reshape Punjab’s industrial and export landscape over the next several years through a mix of government spending and private-sector participation.
What Is the PIVOT Programme?
PIVOT stands for the province’s industrial development and export initiative, built around five core pillars: industrial infrastructure and cluster development, competitive exports, value-chain transformation, e-mechanisation in agriculture and livestock, and public-private partnerships.
Of the projected Rs1,995 billion investment, Rs1,089 billion is expected to come from the government while Rs906 billion is to be mobilised from the private sector. Officials say the programme will support existing industries, develop cluster infrastructure, promote e-business and e-commerce, and strengthen traditional sectors including garments, leather and footwear, cutlery, hand tools, ceramics and the fan industry.
Testing and certification facilities for sports goods are part of the plan, along with a dedicated material-testing laboratory for the fan industry, addressing long-standing demands from exporters in Sialkot and Gujranwala.
Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Value Chains
Agriculture features prominently in the roadmap. The cabinet approved agricultural processing parks in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar, alongside wheat value enhancement and the development of meat and milk value chains.
Export financing for horticulture and floriculture was approved, with value addition in citrus, potatoes and mangoes — three crops in which Punjab holds a national advantage. Tourism and aquaculture are also included in the programme’s scope.
Separately, the cabinet approved the establishment of horticulture authorities in 20 districts and the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Programme High-Power Phase 5 subsidy. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari later told the media that Rs9.5 billion in subsidies had been earmarked for the latest high-power tractor scheme.
Spy Gadgets Banned Under Section 144
In a notable security decision, the government announced it would impose Section 144 on spy gadgets across the province. Addressing a press briefing after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the ban would cover glasses, pens, keychains and buttons fitted with hidden cameras or recording devices.
The move is aimed at curbing the use of covert surveillance equipment in sensitive settings. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code empowers provincial authorities to prohibit acts deemed likely to cause danger, and the government says the restriction takes effect as part of its broader crime-prevention measures.
Public Transport: Rs104 Billion and Electric Buses
Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, who jointly briefed the media with Bokhari, announced that Rs104 billion had been allocated to public transport in the 2025–26 budget. Electric buses are being introduced across Punjab at a fare of just Rs20, and the government plans to expand the provincial bus fleet to 3,000 buses within five years.
Khan said the Gujranwala metro system was expected to be inaugurated in March 2027, adding another major mass-transit project to the province’s network. The government is also working to improve transport terminals and relocate some facilities outside Lahore to ease congestion.
Under the e-taxi scheme, 743 applications have been approved so far, with 30 per cent of vehicles allocated to women — a quota the minister described as part of the government’s commitment to women’s economic participation.
2026–30 Development Vision and Other Decisions
According to Bokhari, Punjab’s proposed 2026–30 development programme aims to attract around Rs2 trillion in investment and create over 150,000 jobs, with the main focus on industry, agriculture, livestock, skills development and exports.
The cabinet also approved plans to provide six Clinic-on-Wheels vehicles to Gilgit-Baltistan, extending the province’s mobile healthcare initiative beyond its borders. On law and order, Bokhari rejected claims of rising crime in Punjab, saying reported rape cases had declined.
Related Posts
Pakistan NewsPM Shehbaz to Visit Gilgit-Baltistan Today for 79th Independence Day, Orders Faster Development Work
Pakistan NewsCDA Gives Fazlur Rehman 15 Days to Remove “Unauthorised” Construction at Islamabad Home — Demolition Warning
Pakistan NewsNCCIA Busts Gang That Posed as Government Officials to Defraud Taxi Drivers in Rawalpindi
Pakistan NewsSiri Paye Seized at Toronto Airport: Travellers from Pakistan Fined $1,350 Over 16kg of Undeclared Food
Pakistan NewsPakistan “Cautiously Optimistic” on Iran-US Mediation After Field Marshal Munir’s Two Tehran Trips: DG ISPR
Pakistan NewsSecurity Forces Shoot Down Five Terrorist Drones in Kharan, BalochistanMost Popular
How-ToPTA Tax Calculator 2026: Check Mobile Tax on Any Phone362 views
SportsUEFA Champions League 2026-27: Format, Teams and Schedule345 views
Canada JobsTech Jobs in Canada: Roles, Salaries, and Skills Needed332 views
Pakistan NewsPIA Boeing 787 Lease Deal: What It Means for the Airline328 views
SportsBallon d’Or 2026: London Ceremony, Nominees and All-Time Records Ahead of 70th Anniversary327 views
ShowbizWomen’s Fashion in Pakistan 2026: Trends, Brands and Style Guide312 views
One comment