Business Desk 
Mar 28, 2025
The Punjab government has approved the facility of free travel for students, senior citizens, and people with disabilities on all buses within the province. The decision was taken at a Provincial Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
At the meeting, the government also sanctioned measures to reduce the prices of chickens, providing financial ease to citizens. In a significant development, the Cabinet resolved to establish special investigation units to deal with sexual crimes and work on crime prevention.
In addition to the free bus service, Punjab will also get new airports in Bhakkar and Bahawalnagar soon, while an airstrip in Bhakkar will be funded for the operation of air ambulance services. The concept of starting an airline owned by Punjab was also under consideration.
The Cabinet also signed an agreement with the World Bank to introduce a new student grading system. To ensure better law enforcement, the government increased fines for violations of the Punjab Fertiliser Control Act and introduced stricter penalties for illegal weapons under the Punjab Arms Ordinance.
In another key move, the government will provide free legal aid to underprivileged citizens by amending the Punjab Legal Aid Rules.
Moreover, 3,904 new jobs have been created in the Punjab Crime Control Department, and 664 visually impaired persons have been hired on daily wages for social inclusion. The government has also approved the Green Pakistan Initiative’s Cholistan watercourse lining project to improve water management.
