LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Assistant Commissioners, similar to those already in place for Deputy Commissioners, to ensure strict monitoring of urban management and beautification efforts across the province.
Under the new KPIs, action will be taken against officials for open manholes, broken roads, garbage dumps, damaged green belts, deteriorated paintwork and presence of encroachments will trigger immediate warnings for respective Assistant Commissioners.
Presiding over a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed detailed presentations and visual progress reports for beautification plans of every district, tehsil, and city. She set February to May as a deadline for completion of Beautification Plan Phase- I.
Authorities concerned briefed the CM about major directives and features of ‘Beautification Plan’ include, installation of water features, fountains and artificial waterfalls in all major cities. They further briefed her about plantation of fast-growing trees, enhanced greenery and development of attractive central green belts in major bazaars. They apprised her that traditional grey footpath tiles have been replaced with aesthetic, coloured tiles. They briefed her about establishment of a digital dashboard to monitor beautification progress, with daily updates.
Officials briefed Chief Minister Punjab that 132 beautification schemes worth Rs16.9 billion are being executed across 39 districts of Punjab. They added that 97 work orders have been issued and 88 projects are currently under implementation which also includes beautification and restoration of historic city gates. Authorities concerned briefed her that 18 beautification projects in Lahore, 06 in Sargodha, 16 in Bahawalpur and 12 in Gujranwala will be launched at the earliest. They added that 17 beautification projects in Rawalpindi, 13 in Faisalabad, 08 in Multan and 24 in Sahiwal will be completed. They further briefed her that work is progressing rapidly in 33 districts, with fiber-glass and tensile covers to be installed in major markets across Punjab.
Authorities concerned briefed her that 06 beautification projects of Rahim Yar Khan will be completed by 31 March. They added that deadline for completion of 05 beautification projects in Bahawalnagar, Fort Abbas, Minchinabad, Chishtian has been set by 30 January while beautification projects in Toba Tek Singh, Kamalia, Gojra will be completed by Feb 3. They added that a task for the completion of beautification projects in Jhang, Shorkot, and 18-Hazari has been set by April 30 while 03 beautification schemes in Narowal, Shakargarh, Zafarwal will be completed by May 31. Officials briefed her that up-gradation work of Sialkot (Iqbal Manzil Bazaar & adjoining streets) will be completed by May 31. They added that 04 beautification projects worth Rs397 million in Jhelum, Dina, Sohawa, Pind Dadan Khan will be completed. Officials briefed her that in Bahawalpur, restoration work will highlight historic Baba Farid Gate and Al-Sadiq Mosque with traditional wooden balconies to be installed.
The CM directed to ensure complete redesign of Minchinabad and Chishtian beautification plans. She set a three-day deadline for submission of Gujrat uplift plan.
Officials briefed the CM about comprehensive beautification of Gujranwala city along with modern remodeling of Rawalpindi’s Raja Bazaar and commercial market. They added that two beautification schemes in Stock and Hassan Abdal will be completed. Chief Minister Punjab directed to ensure renaming and beautifying Chakwal’s historic Chhapar Bazaar by March 30. Officials apprised her that Chiniot’s traditional furniture market with a modern design will be upgraded. They briefed her about clearing encroachments and upgrading 121-year-old Faisalabad Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) and its eight bazaars.
The Chief Minister emphasized that beautification campaign will continue until every district, city and town is completely transformed. She said that not just one bazaar, every corner of every city must be spick & span and aesthetically pleasing, adding that public convenience must remain top priority during all up-gradation works.
She reiterated that historic cities and markets of Punjab will be restored to their cultural glory while adopting modern design standards.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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