Baku (TDI): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has outlined her government’s development agenda while speaking at the World Urban Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan, saying Punjab is advancing through structured reforms despite ongoing challenges.
Addressing the international forum, she said she was honoured to attend the event and conveyed greetings and goodwill from Pakistan’s leadership and people.
She also thanked Azerbaijan’s leadership for the hospitality extended during her visit, noting the country’s development under President Ilham Aliyev as impressive, while paying tribute to Azerbaijan’s founding leader Heydar Aliyev as a long-standing friend of Pakistan.
Highlighting Punjab’s governance priorities, she said the province is tackling key urban and rural challenges through integrated development initiatives.
She stressed that modern cities are not defined only by infrastructure such as roads and buildings, but also by human development and quality of life.
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She pointed to the launch of the Punjab Economic Registry Survey, which aims to gather detailed social and economic data to better shape policy planning.
The chief minister also highlighted the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing programme, describing it as a major step toward expanding affordable housing access.
In addition, she said work is underway to upgrade around 2,000 villages under a Model Village initiative, aimed at providing modern civic facilities in rural areas.
Maryam Nawaz further said that improving rural infrastructure is essential to ensuring balanced development and equal access to services across Punjab.
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She added that highway and transport networks are being upgraded to strengthen connectivity, while infrastructure planning is being aligned with climate resilience needs.
She also emphasized the government’s focus on boosting tourism as part of broader economic development efforts in the province.
