Actor Saba Qamar has praised the Punjab government, saying she has been “observing the changes taking place across Punjab for some time” and that the recent speech by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif “reflected real commitment to improvement.”
In an Instagram story shared on Wednesday, Qamar wrote: “I’ve been observing the changes taking place across Punjab for some time, and the recent speech by the Chief Minister reflected real commitment to improvement. Any step taken toward better governance, public welfare, and development deserves appreciation. Progress benefits everyone and I truly hope this positive momentum continues for Punjab and its people.”
She posted the comments after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif issued a series of directives aimed at improving public safety, infrastructure, and governance across the province.
Earlier this week, the chief minister ordered a comprehensive audit of fire safety systems in public and private buildings throughout Punjab, days after a deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza highlighted the risks posed by poor safety compliance. Chairing a high-level meeting, she directed authorities to ensure strict implementation of fire safety standards to prevent similar incidents.
CM Maryam Nawaz also instructed that roads be completely restored following any excavation carried out for sewerage and drainage projects. She emphasised that pits dug for development work in residential areas must be properly covered and fenced, and that manhole levels should be adjusted to prevent accidents. She further ordered the introduction of uniform, plastic-like manhole covers across the province.
To strengthen monitoring, she directed the establishment of control rooms and management cells in all deputy commissioner offices to oversee projects under the Punjab Development Plan (PDP). Officials informed her that transparency measures in PDP Phase-I had saved approximately Rs2.8 billion.
The chief minister also approved sewerage, drainage, disposal, and water storage projects in Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, and Jhang, along with plans for trunk sewerage systems, new disposal stations, and rainwater drainage networks in Jhelum, Hafizabad, and Okara.
Highlighting urban beautification, she called for the creation of green belts and recreational spaces in every city and directed that a single utility corridor be established to avoid repeated excavations in neighbourhoods. She also ordered the proper placement of electricity poles along road edges, organised overhead wiring, and the installation of streetlights across tehsils.