LAHORE (Web Desk): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the Khushhal Dehat Act 2026, launching a pilot initiative to improve infrastructure and living conditions in 120 villages across the province.
The decision was taken during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, where officials briefed participants on plans to transform rural settlements into model communities.
Under the initiative, village committees will be formed in consultation with public representatives to oversee development activities and ensure coordination between government departments and local residents.
Each committee will be headed by the relevant assistant commissioner, while deputy commissioners will supervise the initiative at the district level. The committees will include four public representatives and four government representatives, including a headteacher, a union council secretary and a doctor from a local health facility.
The project will focus on improving essential infrastructure, including sewerage systems, drainage facilities and paved streets, with development work planned across the selected villages.
Maryam Nawaz directed officials to establish the committees promptly and prepare a comprehensive implementation plan. She also stressed the importance of consulting residents and maintaining transparency and quality throughout the development process.
The chief minister said rural communities would receive greater attention under the provincial government’s development strategy, adding that elected representatives and party ticket-holders would help oversee progress in their respective villages.
The pilot phase is expected to provide a framework for implementing the model-village initiative across other parts of Punjab, subject to the government’s plans and implementation progress.
