LAHORE: The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has approved nine major development schemes worth over Rs59 billion, marking a significant push in Punjab’s social, climate and judicial infrastructure.

The meeting, chaired by Planning & Development Board Chairman Dr Naeem Rauf, endorsed projects spanning education, climate resilience, healthcare, industrial support and judicial facilities. Officials from finance, irrigation, tourism, health, special education, HR&MA and other departments attended the session.

According to the P&D Board, the largest allocation over Rs14.5 billion has been approved for the Punjab Climate Observatory, aimed at strengthening the province’s climate monitoring and adaptation capacity.

Funding of Rs7 billion has been cleared for a new teaching hospital in Sialkot, while another key share of the package goes to Lahore’s judicial infrastructure. Three major judicial towers in the provincial capital have been approved, costing Rs9.15 billion, Rs9.14 billion and Rs6.04 billion respectively, in addition to Rs2.31 billion for supplementary judicial infrastructure.

Under the Chief Minister’s initiative, Rs6.73 billion has been earmarked to provide missing facilities in colleges across Punjab. The PDWP also approved Rs2.75 billion for missing facilities and upgradation work across PSIC-managed Special Industrial Estates, and Rs1.15 billion for strengthening the Strategic Planning Unit in the C&W Department.

Officials said the approvals demonstrate Punjab’s continued shift towards climate-resilient development, improved governance and investment in essential public infrastructure.