By ABDULLAH 
In a landmark decision aimed at improving the lives of industrial workers, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the allocation of 1,220 free housing flats across the Labour Complexes in Sundar, Kasur, and Taxila. The announcement was made during the 28th provincial cabinet meeting, where a comprehensive 130-point agenda was approved.
These housing units will be distributed through a transparent balloting process, ensuring fairness and accessibility for the province’s labour force. Importantly, the Chief Minister rejected any proposals to recover the cost of these flats from the workers, confirming that the accommodation would be provided free of charge.
Acknowledging the severe need for more free housing for industrial workers, Maryam Nawaz also directed the immediate construction of an additional 3,000 flats, reinforcing her government’s commitment to the working class.
Another key decision from the cabinet meeting was the approval of a minimum monthly wage of Rs40,000 across 102 categories for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers, making it one of the most significant wage reforms in the province’s history.
For the first time in Punjab, the cabinet also approved the Occupational Safety and Health Rules 2024, a critical step towards protecting workers in high-risk jobs such as sewerage maintenance and construction sites. The Labour Department has been tasked with forming a dedicated enforcement force to ensure these safety protocols are strictly followed.
In addition, the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Rules 2024 was approved to tackle the growing issue of child labour, reflecting the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
CM Maryam Nawaz also lauded the efforts of Rescue 1122 teams during recent flood emergencies. She announced a Rs50,000 reward for each official who participated in the relief operations. Moreover, the cabinet sanctioned Rs2.6 billion to the PDMA for ongoing flood rehabilitation efforts.
Several other public welfare initiatives and structural reforms were approved during the session:
- Lifelong pensions for widows of government employees.
- Establishment of labour industries in prisons, allowing inmates to earn wages.
- Reduction in petrol pump documentation, cutting required paperwork from 16 to 6 documents to boost investment.
- Paid internships for nurses in public sector hospitals.
- AI-based traffic management system to be implemented in 90 days.
- Creation of WASA offices in 5 new divisions, expanding to 13 more cities.
- Standardized recruitment for university officials like registrars, treasurers, and controllers of examinations.
- Digital Kisan Card success, with 99% loan recovery reported in the first phase.
With bold initiatives that prioritize housing, labour rights, education, public health, and technology-driven governance, CM Maryam Nawaz has set a transformative tone for Punjab’s development. The decision to provide free housing to industrial workers is a major leap toward economic justice, worker dignity, and inclusive growth.
As these reforms begin to take shape on the ground, they promise a better, safer, and more dignified life for thousands of workers and their families across Punjab.