The Punjab cabinet has given the green light to significant recruitment drives across multiple sectors. Approvals include the hiring of constables for the Right Management Police, along with vacancies in the Walled City Authority, Punjab Financial Advisory Services, Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, and Punjab Energy Holding Company Limited.
Extensions of service contracts were also approved for employees in the Home Department, Planning & Development Department, Literacy Department, and the Multan Center for Combating Violence Against Women. Additionally, over 590 project-based employees in the Literacy Department and 31 staff members of the SPU research unit were granted contract renewals.
To streamline hiring processes for clinical and non-clinical roles, the Punjab Locum Recruitment Act 2025 was also passed.
To improve governance, the cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Drug Rules, Sports Board Punjab regulations, and the Punjab Charities Commission framework. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz instructed authorities to intensify scrutiny against fake charitable organizations.
For the first time, the Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Rules 2024 were approved, aimed at ensuring workplace safety, especially for sewer line and construction workers. The Labour Department will establish a dedicated enforcement team to implement these rules on the ground.
To encourage investment, the cabinet approved a simplified online application system for setting up petrol pumps, cutting down documentation requirements from 16 to just six. Through this digital platform, investors will now be able to obtain NOCs more efficiently.
Urban infrastructure is also set to expand, with the establishment of WASA in five additional divisions and 13 cities. Furthermore, an AI-based traffic management system and the Excel Road Management System are scheduled to be operational within 90 days to enhance traffic safety and flow.
The cabinet approved a lifelong pension scheme for widows of government employees, paid internships for nurses in public hospitals, and structured industry work programs for prisoners in Punjab jails. The chief minister emphasized fair wages for inmate workers and ordered third-party monitoring of prisons.
The Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Rules 2024 were also passed to combat child labour. Additionally, a standardized process for appointing treasurers, registrars, and examination controllers in universities was approved.
The Kisan Card program has reported strong results, achieving 99% recovery in its first phase. More than Rs6.93 billion was disbursed to 90,000 farmers, while Rs47 billion has been utilized for agricultural inputs. New tractor manufacturing plants are also in the works as part of Punjab’s high-tech mechanization program.
For environmental protection, a regulatory framework was introduced to safeguard native bird species. The provincial government also signed MoUs with the Houbara International Foundation and the Deer Foundation International to support conservation initiatives.
The cabinet approved Rs2.6 billion in emergency assistance for flood victims through the PDMA. Rescue 1122 was praised for its effective response during recent emergencies.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed all provincial departments to ensure regular audits and implement third-party monitoring to enhance transparency and accountability in government operations.