Punjab cabinet approves power tariff reduction, development projects

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved a 30-40percent reduction in power tariffs for provincial electricity companies, making Punjab the first province to voluntarily lower electricity rates.

During its 26th meeting, the cabinet approved decreased tariffs for Quaid-i-Azam Thermal Power and Punjab Thermal Power plants.

Punjab Cabinet approves Child Protection Policy

The session also celebrated the party’s by-election victory in Sambrial, interpreting it as farmers’ endorsement of provincial policies. A PKR5,000-per-acre wheat subsidy has already been distributed to 514,000 farmers, with 500,000 more to receive payments soon.

The key approvals included:

• Establishment of Punjab’s first private airline, Air Punjab, with operational launch targeted within a year
• PKR40 billion for upgrading school facilities across the province
• Pakistan’s first Nawaz Sharif Medical City in Lahore, spanning 5,000 kanals with specialised treatment centers
• 1,100 interest-free electric taxis for Lahore
• Child Protection Policy and safety gear mandates for labourers

The cabinet also sanctioned vaping centre closures, eco-tourism projects in wildlife parks, and PKR10 billion financing for flour mills.