Punjab’s long-awaited reset of urban governance has formally begun with the launch of the Chief Minister Punjab Development Programme from Burewala tehsil in Vehari district. The Rs . 300 billion initiative aims to upgrade municipal services across 52 districts of the province, directly benefiting seven million people. More than a routine development announcement, the programme represents a strategic shift toward long-term, integrated urban planning-designed to serve Punjab’s cities not just for years, but for generations.

The launch marks a significant departure from the way municipal development has historically been handled. For decades, cities suffered from fragmented planning, reactive spending, and short-lived solutions. Sewerage systems were laid without anticipating population growth, roads were repeatedly excavated to repair underground utilities, and rainwater drainage remained inadequate, resulting in frequent urban flooding. Funds were allocated, but rarely under a coherent framework, leaving cities trapped in cycles of decay and repeated reconstruction.

The CM Punjab Development Programme seeks to break this cycle by introducing durability and foresight as guiding principles. Central to the initiative is a comprehensive overhaul of sewerage and drainage infrastructure. Modern sewerage systems will be laid across cities, supported by disposal stations and wastewater treatment plants. For the first time in Punjab’s municipal history, advanced drainage pipes will be used, extending the utility life of sewerage systems from the conventional 25 years to nearly 100 years. This single innovation reflects a fundamental shift-from temporary fixes to infrastructure conceived as a long-term public asset.

Water security, public health, and environmental sustainability form another........

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