Punjab’s Rs23.85 billion Khushhal Dehat Programme will initially cover 475 villages, with plans to extend development projects to another 2,000 villages in the second phase.
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the Rs23.85 billion Khushhal Dehat Programme, a rural development initiative aimed at improving infrastructure, sanitation and living conditions in villages across the province.
Under the programme, Rs5 crore will be allocated for development activities in each selected village. The initiative aims to address longstanding infrastructure challenges, including unpaved streets, inadequate drainage and the lack of organised sewerage systems.
The programme, launched under the slogan “Har Gali Pakki, Har Gaon Mein Sewerage Ka Baqaida Nizam,” will initially cover 475 villages during its first phase. The provincial government also plans to extend the initiative to another 2,000 villages in the second phase, with Maryam Nawaz directing the relevant authorities to prepare a comprehensive development plan.
The initiative is intended to provide rural communities with better basic facilities through the construction of paved streets, improved drainage infrastructure and properly organised sewerage systems.
According to the approved mechanism, development projects will be planned and supervised through specially established Khushhal Dehat Committees at the village level. These committees will oversee implementation and ensure that development activities address local requirements.
Each committee will be headed by the relevant Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Social Services. Its membership will comprise five government representatives and four private members.
The concerned Union Council chairman and sub-engineer will also be included to ensure the participation of local representatives and technical officials in identifying development priorities and monitoring construction work.
The involvement of these stakeholders is intended to help authorities determine the most pressing infrastructure needs in individual villages and ensure that allocated funds are utilised accordingly.
During the approval process, Maryam Nawaz directed the relevant departments to release the first instalment of development grants to the Khushhal Dehat Committees by November to facilitate the timely commencement of projects.
The chief minister said improving rural infrastructure was among the government’s key commitments, emphasising that people living in villages deserved the same development opportunities and basic facilities available in major cities.
She maintained that providing paved streets and establishing a proper sewerage network in every village remained important priorities of her administration.
Maryam Nawaz also stressed that development activities would not remain limited to urban centres, saying the provincial government intended to promote balanced development across rural and urban areas.
She further stated that political differences would not influence the selection of development projects or the distribution of public resources. According to the chief minister, every citizen and locality in Punjab had an equal right to benefit from government development initiatives, regardless of political affiliation.
With an initial target of 475 villages and a proposed expansion to another 2,000 communities, the Khushhal Dehat Programme is designed to extend basic infrastructure development across rural Punjab.
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