LAHORE: The Punjab manhole safety project officially began after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered the installation of polyester safety nets inside manholes, drains and gutters across the province to prevent fatal accidents and improve public safety. The government will initially implement the project in Gujranwala on a pilot basis, covering 30,000 manholes.
The directive came during the CM’s second consecutive high-level review meeting on ongoing development projects, where divisional commissioners presented progress reports via video link. Maryam Nawaz made clear that public safety remains non-negotiable and the manhole net order signals a rare, practical move toward infrastructure accountability.
Gujranwala Driving the Change
The Gujranwala Division is the heart of the ongoing urban transformation in Punjab province. According to the authorities attending the meeting, there are already 31 active development projects, including roads, greenery areas, florists, commercial areas, and even a zoo. Tuff tiles will go down on key routes including Nawab Chowk to Crown Cinema, Pasrur Road to Ferozewala Road, and Aslam Butt Road to Hafizabad Road.
Traffic signals will come up at nine high-traffic points, including Passport Road, Ferozewala Road, and Civil Hospital Road. Streetlights will illuminate Nowshera Road and Eminabad Road. New family parks will serve residents in Saroki Eminabad, Kamoke, and Nowshera Virkan, while a jogging track takes shape along the Matu Bhiki Canal.
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The CM also approved construction of roads from Bypass Road Kalaske to GT Road and from GT Road to Peep Naki village in Wazirabad, along with early completion of the Kamoke Edhi Road project on the GT Road to Railway Road corridor.
Heritage, Aesthetics, and Urban Standardisation
Beyond safety, Maryam Nawaz pushed hard on visual consistency and civic pride. She ordered uniform signboard styles and standard designs across all Punjab roads, and directed a uniform colour scheme for shopfronts along roadsides, a move aimed at bringing order to visually chaotic commercial strips.
She instructed officials to install wall-mounted planters in narrow bazaars and enforce a uniform colour scheme for shop shutters. The main bazaar of Taxila gets a historic upgrade the CM announced its transformation into a dedicated heritage street.
In Sara-i-Alamgir, a state-of-the-art service road will connect Kareem Mall to Jamia Mosque Road along GT Road, complete with benches and plantation.
Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Beyond
Rawalpindi authorities received a firm three-month deadline to wrap up all ongoing beautification works. The CM reviewed progress on projects along Adiala Road and Chakri Road and ordered authorities to close open drains in Gujar Khan’s Daulat Nagar main bazaar area.
Five road projects got the green light for Mandi Bahauddin. Approval was granted to four roads’ construction and rehabilitation schemes for Kotli Sattian in both Murree and Jhelum. Gujrat was also given clearance to develop a nine-acre park named Nawaz Sharif Park, which will have a gym, paddle tennis, and jogging track facilities.
The death toll due to the manhole problem in Punjab continues to increase year after year as more people fall into the uncovered drains in the rainy season. However, the polyester net method will be an economical, practical solution which can provide safety without the need for total restructuring of existing infrastructure.
It is evident that in the case of Lahore’s pilot project involving 30,000 manholes in Gujranwala, Maryam Nawaz’s personal involvement in the successive meeting makes her statement loud and clear.
