ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz represented Pakistan at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Attending as a special state guest, she showcased Punjab’s urban revolution—highlighting infrastructure and data-driven reforms.
Her discussions centered around the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing scheme, environmental sustainability, and waste management initiatives.
Addressing the Leaders Summit, she said it was an honour to participate in the global gathering and praised Baku as a symbol of modern urban development, vision, and international connectivity.
She stressed that governments should be evaluated not by rhetoric but by tangible improvements in people’s lives. “From housing to urban resilience, every project I undertake is driven by the courage to challenge the status quo,” she said, adding that inclusive development must ensure that no citizen is left behind.
The chief minister underlined that cities become truly resilient only when development is people-centred, environmentally sustainable, and data-driven, noting that “if something is not measured and assessed, it can never be fixed.”
She conveyed greetings from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan, while thanking the government of Azerbaijan for its hospitality.
Highlighting historical ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, she said the old city of Baku reflected centuries-old civilisational links, including ancient trade routes such as Multan Sarai. She also praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his leadership in transforming Baku into a globally connected and modern city.
Maryam Nawaz said her visit to Baku marked her first trip to Central Asia and described the city as a symbol of resilience and progress. She added that she felt “at home” in Azerbaijan due to the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries.
She said she had come to the forum representing Punjab, a province of over 130 million people, and emphasised that urban spaces are not merely physical infrastructure but places where human dignity is either upheld or denied.
Outlining her government’s reform agenda, she highlighted the Punjab Social Economic Registry, a door-to-door data initiative aimed at ensuring inclusive planning and targeted welfare delivery.
She said housing remained a top priority under the flagship “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme, which she described as one of the world’s largest interest-free housing initiatives. According to her, 160,000 families have received housing support, while over 100,000 homes have already been completed and occupied.
The chief minister said the “Model Village Programme” is upgrading more than 2,000 villages with clean water, drainage, paved streets, and solar energy systems, while expanding access to safe drinking water across rural and urban areas.
World Urban Forum WUF13 Baku on Adequate Housing – by Tazeen Akhtar, Islamabad
She also announced a major urban development initiative worth over $2 billion, focusing on roads, drainage, water storage, and climate resilience infrastructure. More than 30,000 kilometres of roads have been completed in two years, she said, restoring connectivity and economic activity.
On environmental protection, she said Punjab has launched large-scale plantation drives, including 50 million trees under the “Plant for Punjab” campaign, and has allocated funds specifically for climate resilience.
She further highlighted the expansion of electric mobility, including 1,100 electric buses in the first phase, with plans to scale up to 5,000 electric buses, e-bikes, and e-taxis by 2029.
Discussing sanitation reforms, she said the “Suthra Punjab” initiative employs over 150,000 sanitation workers and is evolving into a waste-to-value system through recycling and energy recovery.
On public safety, she said the Safe City programme has been expanded across Punjab using advanced surveillance systems to improve crime prevention and protect women and children.
Concluding her address, Maryam Nawaz said real development demands courage and consistency, adding that the true measure of governance is not in speeches but in transformed lives.
