Punjab Assembly records historic legislative output: Minister Mujtaba

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2026) The Punjab Assembly formally commenced its new parliamentary year with the issuance of the legislative Calendar for the upcoming year.

On the occasion, Provincial Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman here Monday briefed members of the Punjab Assembly Press Gallery on the Assembly’s legislative performance over the past two years, terming it historic and unprecedented.

The minister stated that during the last two parliamentary years, the Punjab Assembly passed a total of 143 Acts, reflecting the highest volume of legislation in the Assembly’s history. These included 63 Principal Acts and 80 Amending Acts. He noted that 28 Acts were passed during the first parliamentary year, while a remarkable 115 Acts were approved in the second year, demonstrating a significant acceleration in legislative productivity aimed at institutional reforms.

Highlighting the provincial government’s broader governance agenda, the finance minister said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, Punjab has emerged as the most progressive province in the country. He added that comprehensive reforms have been introduced across key sectors including education, health, livestock, agriculture, environment, and wildlife, supported by robust legislation to ensure effective and sustainable implementation.

He further explained that aligning outdated laws with contemporary governance needs was a critical requirement, which the Punjab Government addressed through systematic legal reforms to strengthen service delivery and institutional efficiency.

According to Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, a majority of the laws enacted over the past two years directly impact public welfare. The Price Control of Commodities Act enabled effective regulation of essential commodity prices, while amendments to the Property Act provided significant relief to citizens by reducing litigation related to illegal land occupation. He added that the Overseas Pakistanis Property Act introduced a dedicated legal framework to ensure swift and affordable justice for Pakistanis residing abroad.

The minister said that reform-oriented laws such as the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Act, Fertilizer Act, and Control of Narcotics legislation are already yielding positive outcomes for consumers and farmers alike. He also confirmed that the Local Government Act has attained final shape, expressing confidence that the province would be in a position to hold local government elections by the end of the current year.

Addressing environmental challenges, he attributed the recent reduction in smog levels to targeted legislation and structural reforms in the Environment and Forestry Departments. He commended the role of Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for her focused efforts in strengthening environmental governance.

Responding to queries regarding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the minister clarified that the law does not contain provisions targeting journalists. However, he acknowledged concerns raised by journalistic organizations and reiterated that amendments through consultation remain possible in line with democratic norms and international best practices.

On forest conservation, he informed the media that serious and effective legislation is underway, coupled with departmental restructuring and expansion of forest cover to enhance environmental sustainability.

Commenting on inflation, the finance minister said hoarding and profiteering remain major contributors to price hikes, and strict legal action is being taken against violators. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, inflation has been reduced from double digits to single digits over the past two years. He added that prices remained relatively stable during the current Ramadan compared to last year, owing to proactive price control measures by relevant departments.

The minister further disclosed that work on the establishment of Air Punjab is underway, and the province is expected to have a quality airline by next year. He added that Punjab has recorded a comparatively lower proportion of people living below the poverty line than other provinces, attributing this to targeted social protection policies.

He concluded by stating that several welfare initiatives, including the Kissan Card, Dhee Rani Programme, and Minority Cards, have been launched for underprivileged families. Under the Ramazan Nighaban Programme, four million beneficiaries are receiving Rs. 10,000 each this year, marking yet another milestone in the Punjab Government’s social support initiatives.

Concluding the briefing, the finance minister reaffirmed that in the new parliamentary year, the Punjab Government will further accelerate public welfare, transparency, and development through focused and effective legislation.