Punjab Development News

[hydrabadi_arab]

The Punjab government has rolled out an ambitious industrial development plan worth Rs30 billion for the current fiscal year, aimed at modernizing and expanding industrial estates across the province to accelerate economic growth.


According to Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) Chairman Major (r) Javed Iqbal, the funds will be utilized to upgrade infrastructure and fill missing facilities in all existing industrial estates, alongside developing new industrial zones in key districts.

“An amount of Rs30 billion will be spent during the current fiscal year to provide missing facilities in all industrial estates across Punjab,” Iqbal said, adding that the company is focusing on two major upcoming projects — the Sialkot and Rawalpindi Industrial Estates.


He noted that the Sialkot Industrial Estate, being developed over 400 acres near Sialkot International Airport, has entered an advanced stage of construction. It will be connected to the Sialkot–Lahore Motorway and the airport through modern road networks to support both import and export operations.

Meanwhile, the proposed Rawalpindi Industrial Estate remains in its conceptual phase. The project aims to foster industrialization in northern Punjab and create new avenues for investment and employment.

PIEDMC has also initiated expansion plans for the Multan Industrial Estate and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura. Special allocations have been made in the current budget for upgrading roads, sewerage, and other infrastructure at the Multan Industrial Estate.


Since its inception, PIEDMC has successfully developed and upgraded nine major industrial estates, including Sundar Industrial Estate, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate (Kot Lakhpat), Multan Industrial Estate (Phases I and II), Quaid-e-Azam Business Park (Sheikhupura), Vehari, Bhalwal, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalpur Industrial Estates.

The company has so far attracted investments exceeding Rs450 billion — including foreign direct investment — and generated over 200,000 direct jobs across Punjab. To streamline investor services, PIEDMC operates a one-window facilitation centre that manages applications, NOCs, and approvals for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status.

Iqbal said the corporation’s focus is also on environmental compliance, directing industries to strictly adhere to pollution control standards. He emphasized that new estates are being developed outside city boundaries to reduce congestion and improve logistics efficiency, following the model of Sundar Industrial Estate and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park.


Industrialists have largely welcomed the provincial government’s new initiative. Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol recommended that the government also establish a dedicated zone for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “We have submitted a proposal for an SME-specific zone under a public-private partnership model,” he said.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

The Punjab government has introduced a new ordinance that will overhaul its recruitment process by shifting from the basic pay scale system to lump sum pay packages, effectively eliminating pensions for future employees.


According to a news report published by Dawn, the Punjab Regularisation of Service (Repeal) Ordinance 2025, which was promulgated on October 31, repeals the Punjab Regularisation of Service Act 2018, aiming to reduce the government’s financial liabilities, particularly pension costs.

The ordinance, tabled in the Punjab Assembly on Monday, aims to address the fiscal burden on the provincial exchequer by introducing a new model for appointing employees. The move will end the regularisation of services for contractual employees after four years, a provision previously allowed under the 2018 law.

The new system stipulates that departmental recruitments will be conducted on a lump sum pay package, and employees appointed on contract will remain in that status for the duration of their service, without entitlement to pensions. This change is designed to alleviate the financial strain caused by pension obligations in the public sector.

The Punjab Regularisation of Service Act 2018 had previously allowed contract employees to be considered for permanent positions after four years of service, provided they met certain qualifications and performance criteria. It also included provisions for the regularisation of services and a framework for appointments, pay, and seniority.

While the new ordinance has been enacted, confusion remains about its impact on employees hired before its promulgation.


In light of the changes, some civil servants are calling for either regular job options or more competitive salaries to strengthen the government’s workforce, suggesting that such measures would improve the quality of public service.

 

[atmi_bum]

In the US, pensions are being replaced by defined-contribution plans, in which employees control their retirement funds through contributions from their employers. Most private employers already have these plans, but they're expanding to the local, state, and federal governments as well.

Many of these governments are facing massive underfunded pension liabilities due to fiscal mismanagement.

It's good to see this happening elsewhere in the world.

 

[samsite84]

In the US, pensions are being replaced by defined-contribution plans, in which employees control their retirement funds through contributions from their employers. Most private employers already have these plans, but they're expanding to the local, state, and federal governments as well.

Many of these governments are facing massive underfunded pension liabilities due to fiscal mismanagement.

It's good to see this happening elsewhere in the world.

I love your handle - atmi bum

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired an important meeting of all relevant departments of Punjab Government, in which it was decided to establish more effective mosque management committees, comprising respected local notables, across Punjab.

Participants of the meeting noted that state, religious scholars and community elders stand united for the maintenance of peace and harmony in the province.

The authorities concerned briefed the CM that Punjab government has transformed administration of mosques into a public trust, ensuring transparency and community participation. They highlighted that orders have been issued to guarantee immediate disbursement of stipends to ‘Imams’ across the province. They apprised the meeting participants that registration process for mosque ‘Imams’ is in the final stages, and as directed by Punjab government, special counters have been established in every tehsil office under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner to swiftly facilitate registration process.


They also briefed that ‘Imams’ will be able to submit their stipend application forms in both manual and digital formats and stipend disbursements will commence within a few weeks. They underscored that for the first time in Punjab’s history, complete digital mapping and data compilation of religious institutions has been completed. They said that data of 20,863 religious seminaries and geo-tagging of 56,000 mosques has been finalised, with all records stored in a transparent digital database.

The authorities concerned briefed the participants of the meeting that a new era of unity, harmony and interfaith brotherhood has begun in mosques being managed by Punjab Auqaf Department. They noted that currently 284 mosques are under the supervision of Auqaf Department, while 47 mosques are being supervised by other ‘Imams’.

They said that taking into account religious and national services of ‘Imams’, Punjab government will soon decide on an increase in their stipends. They added that in order to enforce writ of the state, authorities have arrested 64 individuals who had rented out their properties to Afghan nationals, and cases have been registered against three factory owners found to have business links with Afghan citizens residing illegally in the province. They underscored that more than 45,000 locations across Punjab have been checked to identify illegally residing Afghan nationals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

Punjab on its way to deredicalize mosques and mullahs post TLP ban. KPK need to follow on same footsteps to get rid of extremist Zia legacy.

Now every mullah will be on state payroll and no one will dare speak against national interests of Pakistan.

 

[hasssanali8998]

Punjab on its way to deredicalize mosques and mullahs post TLP ban. KPK need to follow on same footsteps to get rid of extremist Zia legacy.

Now every mullah will be on state payroll and no one will dare speak against national interests of Pakistan.

not only kp but every province , but kp mosques will be tough to regulate but it needs to be done

 

[newb3e]

Punjab on its way to deredicalize mosques and mullahs post TLP ban. KPK need to follow on same footsteps to get rid of extremist Zia legacy.

Now every mullah will be on state payroll and no one will dare speak against national interests of Pakistan.

define national interest of Pakistan?

 

[Liquidator]

Good step
Any Tariq, Danyaal or Haroon shouldn't be able to set up a mosque and preach their version of the deen to make money.

 

[SABRE]

To the best of my knowledge:

1. There is no such thing as private masjid in Islam
2. There is no such profession as molvi in Islam (as stated by Dr Israr Ahmed)
3. There is no such thing as religious madarsa in Islam
4. There is no such thing as mazaar/shrines in Islam and the dabba pirs that come with them.

Based on what Dr Israr had said, I too believe it is the duty of every Muslim to learn about their religion through their own effort, and only a wholesome education can create this capacity, not the madarsa, which is mainly used for political and financial gains. If you want your child to become a good human being teach them Islam. If you want to waste them away, send them to madarsa in Pakistan. There is also the need to clamp down on the molvi and the mic love affair. I doubt there is any other country where calls for prayer/azaan last 30 to 40 minutes, and molvi continue on talking/lecturing on mic after the prayers.

Federal and other provincial governments needs to double down on these issues.

Edit:
* Friday sermons should be government approved
* Imam must not talk politics but should touch upon social issues based on Quranic teachings, Hadith, and Sunnah.
* A Jama Masjid should be defined as one with the capacity to facilitate at least 1000 worshiper.
* No unnecessary use of mic and loud speakers after the prayers.
* Regulate the timings of Azaan. All Azaans must take place simultaneously and end within 5 minutes.

Edit#2:
* Scholars may assist in fatwa but right of declaring fatwa should be of the state.
* Call for jihad should be state affair, which, I believe, is the actual method in Islam anyway.

 

[hasssanali8998]

define national interest of Pakistan?

idk man not blowing up girls schools not killing soldiers , not using Islam to justify lynching's and best of all no more ummah chumma with afgnandus

 

[hasssanali8998]

To the best of my knowledge:

1. There is no such thing as private masjid in Islam
2. There is no such profession as molvi in Islam (as stated by Dr Israr Ahmed)
3. There is no such thing as religious madarsa in Islam
4. There is no such thing as mazaar/shrines in Islam and the dabba pirs that come with them.

Based on what Dr Israr had said, I too believe it is the duty of every Muslim to learn about their religion through their own effort, and only a wholesome education can create this capacity, not the madarsa, which is mainly used for political and financial gains. If you want your child to become a good human being teach them Islam. If you want to waste them away, send them to madarsa in Pakistan. There is also the need to clamp down on the molvi and the mic love affair. I doubt there is any other country where calls for prayers last 30 to 40 minutes, and molvi continue on talking/lecturing on mic after the prayers.

Federal and other provincial governments needs to double down on these issues.

i think we should outlaw madrasas entirely and instead have mandatory schools with an option for Islamic education in the school

 

[Distant_Observer]

Another 10 years and Punjab will become unrecognizable. I can now say they are on the runway to become civilized.

 

[SABRE]

i think we should outlaw madrasas entirely and instead have mandatory schools with an option for Islamic education in the school

We need to bridge the gap between our education system (especially Westernised one) and religious education. We have faltered here very badly.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

define national interest of Pakistan?

Sovereignty, territorial integrity, citizen security, internal stability that will result in economic growth. Mullahs who sell hubris to population to gain financial gains need to be reign in. No more mullahs talking about foreign policy or geopolitical issues against the interests of Pakistan state.