Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has sought Asian Development Bank (ADB) support for several development projects.
She made the request during a meeting with ADB Vice-President Yingmang Yang in Lahore on Monday.
The ADB vice-president appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s vision and approach to public service. He also thanked the chief minister for the warm hospitality.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to cooperate across several important sectors. These areas include clean drinking water, agriculture, technical skills, health and education.
Punjab Seeks ADB Support for Health Projects
Maryam Nawaz emphasised the need for ADB support for several major healthcare projects.
These include a Cardiac Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Cancer Hospital. The chief minister said healthcare projects remain among her government’s priorities.
“Health projects are among our priorities, we will complete them soon for the convenience of the people,” the CM stressed.
The Punjab government aims to complete the projects quickly. The chief minister highlighted the importance of better healthcare facilities for the people.
Three Concessional Loan Agreements Discussed
The meeting also covered three concessional loan agreements linked to Punjab’s development needs.
The agreements concern nursing education, STEAM labs in schools and agricultural machinery for farmers.
These projects cover education, skills development and agriculture. Therefore, they form part of the broader cooperation between Punjab and the ADB.
Maryam Nawaz also expressed gratitude to ADB officials for organising the “Punjab Agri-Food Investment Forum”.
The forum focuses attention on opportunities within Punjab’s agriculture and food sectors.
More Electric Buses Planned for Punjab
Maryam Nawaz said development projects across Punjab were moving towards rapid completion.
She also highlighted plans for expanding electric public transport.
By next year, she said, another 2,000 electric buses would operate on Punjab’s roads with ADB support.
The planned expansion would form part of the province’s wider development efforts.
Punjab Economic Transformation Plan Called a Game-Changer
Maryam Nawaz described the Punjab Economic Transformation Plan as a game-changer.
She linked the plan with improvements in agriculture and broader economic development.
“The government is focusing on increasing the cultivation of oilseeds, pulses and fruits, improving agricultural finance and cold chains,” she added.
The plan therefore focuses on both agricultural production and supporting infrastructure.
The chief minister also stressed the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s long-term partnership with the ADB.
“Punjab is Pakistan’s food basket, a hub of industrial development with a growing workforce,” she maintained.
Focus on Governance and Economic Revival
Maryam Nawaz said her government was pursuing a broad reform agenda across the province.
The agenda includes stronger governance and improved public service delivery. It also focuses on economic revival and development.
Under PIVOT, the province is working to increase value addition and exports.
The programme also focuses on skill development and private sector investment.
The government sees these areas as important parts of Punjab’s economic development strategy.
ADB Cooperation to Support Punjab’s Development
The meeting highlighted several areas where Punjab and the ADB plan to work together.
Clean drinking water, agriculture, healthcare, education and technical skills remain key areas of cooperation.
Meanwhile, concessional financing could support nursing education, STEAM laboratories and agricultural machinery.
Healthcare projects also remain a major priority for the provincial government.
The proposed expansion of electric buses adds another major area of cooperation.
Overall, the meeting focused on strengthening development cooperation between Punjab and the ADB.
Maryam Nawaz also reiterated her government’s focus on governance, service delivery and economic growth.
The discussions reflect Punjab’s efforts to secure development support while advancing projects across several key sectors.
