The Punjab government has approved seven road projects under the first phase of its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme.
The PPP move is part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s plan to increase private sector involvement in development projects.
The decisions were taken during a meeting, also chaired by Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Private sector
Officials told the meeting that roads across Punjab would be constructed, rehabilitated and managed with private-sector participation.
Successful companies will receive seven-year contracts. They will manage the selected road projects and share profits with the Punjab government.
Punjab has already been moving several road projects towards the PPP model. According to records, road-sector operations and management projects have gone through bidding and evaluation during 2026.
Local vaccine production planned
The meeting also approved progress towards local vaccine production on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Officials reviewed a plan to manufacture vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) through a PPP arrangement. Plans to transform livestock farms and vaccine production facilities were also discussed.
The Punjab PPP Authority had previously been working with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department on an FMD vaccine production plant, to strengthen local vaccine production and improve livestock disease control.
Moreover, changes to the bid evaluation process were approved to improve transparency. Institutional and administrative management arrangements in Lahore were also cleared.
The authority also ratified decisions made during its fourth meeting. Information and communication reforms, social media initiatives and the district plan were reviewed.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said Maryam Nawaz’s policy of involving the private sector could be a ‘game changer’ for Punjab.
She said projects must be completed within their deadlines without compromising construction standards.