Punjab Launches $2 Billion Urban Development Plan

Why this is here: Punjab intends to deploy 5,000 electric buses by 2029, starting with 1,100 in the first phase of the program.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a $2 billion urban development program in Baku, Azerbaijan. She addressed the World Urban Forum Leaders’ Summit, outlining plans to rebuild roads, drainage, and water facilities across her province in Pakistan. Nawaz emphasized a people-centered approach to city resilience, connecting infrastructure with human dignity and socioeconomic data collection.

The program includes Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, an affordable housing initiative that has already supported roughly 160,000 families with housing loans. Additionally, over 2,000 villages are undergoing transformations with improved water, sanitation, and solar power. The province also aims to expand clean drinking water access and is constructing more than 30,000 kilometers of roads.

Nawaz noted that while the province is addressing urban flooding with data-driven planning, the initiative is still relatively new. She also highlighted a focus on tourism, with over 100 heritage sites undergoing restoration, and Lahore’s designation as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026-27. The work to improve infrastructure and services continues as Punjab strives for sustainable urban development.