Maryam Nawaz Unveils Rs23 Billion Development and Security Plan for Punjab Riverine Belt
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a comprehensive Rs23 billion development and security uplift package targeted at Punjab's riverine belt, a vast and historically underserved stretch of territory along major rivers that has long suffered from poverty, poor connectivity, and security challenges.
The plan encompasses infrastructure development including roads, bridges, and basic utilities, alongside a dedicated security component aimed at addressing criminal networks and militant activity that have historically exploited the difficult terrain of the riverine zone. The initiative is being framed as part of the provincial government's broader vision to bring marginalised communities into the economic mainstream.
The Chief Minister said the package represents a coordinated approach linking development with law enforcement, arguing that sustainable security cannot be achieved without parallel investment in social and physical infrastructure. Officials indicated that implementation will be overseen through a dedicated project management structure with defined timelines.
The announcement will be welcomed in districts that have long complained of neglect, though analysts will watch closely whether the ambitious allocation translates into tangible ground-level delivery given Punjab's historically uneven record on remote area development expenditure.
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