Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a February-to-May completion window for the first phase of the province-wide beautification plan, as officials briefed her on progress across districts during a special meeting in Lahore.
According to government sources, the chief minister reviewed detailed presentations containing images and design outlines for beautification schemes in every district, tehsil and major city. The plan includes 132 schemes across 39 districts, with a total cost of Rs 16.9 billion.
Officials reported that 97 work orders have already been issued, while 88 projects are currently underway. The chief minister directed departments to ensure timely completion and maintain uniform standards throughout the province.
Under the ongoing phase, major urban centres will see extensive upgrades. Planned works include 18 projects in Lahore, 16 in Bahawalpur, 17 in Rawalpindi, 13 in Faisalabad, 12 in Gujranwala, 8 in Multan, 6 in Sargodha, and 24 in Sahiwal.
Maryam Nawaz instructed authorities to incorporate features such as restoration of historic gates, installation of tensile and fiberglass structures, creation of water features including fountains and artificial waterfalls, construction of attractive green belts, and the use of coloured tiles instead of traditional grey pavements in central markets.
A dedicated monitoring dashboard will be established with weekly updates, and performance standards for all assistant commissioners will be introduced. Officials will be held accountable for issues such as open manholes, damaged roads, waste accumulation, broken green belts and deteriorated paintwork.
City-specific targets were also finalised. In Rahim Yar Khan, six projects must be completed by March 31. In Bahawalpur, heritage restoration will focus on Baba Farid Gate and Al-Sadiq Mosque, while Faisalabad is continuing upgrades around the 121-year-old Ghanta Ghar and its surrounding bazaars. Gujranwala has been directed to undergo a complete visual uplift, and upgrades to Sialkot’s Iqbal Manzil bazaar and adjacent streets are scheduled to finish by May 31.
Rawalpindi’s Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market will receive a modern urban design makeover, while Chakwal has been asked to rename Chhappar Bazaar as part of its beautification initiative. Projects in Jhang, Shorkot and Chiniot are also moving ahead, with schemes in Narowal, Shakargarh and Zafarwal set for completion by May 31.
Maryam Nawaz said her aim is to make every city attractive, clean and welcoming. She assured that public convenience will remain a priority and that residents will not face unnecessary disruption during project execution.
