CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Declares Yokohama a Model for Urban Development and Cooperation

Lahore/Yokohama  (Asif Iqbal) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, currently on a five-day official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government, commenced her formal engagements in the city of Yokohama on Sunday.

Yokohama Mayor Dr. Takeharu Yamanaka received the Chief Minister and hosted a luncheon in her honor. During the meeting, discussions focused on solutions to environmental challenges, urban development, and the exchange of modern technology. Both sides agreed to enhance “city-to-city cooperation” and emphasized joint initiatives between Punjab and Yokohama on urban development projects.

At the Yokohama Town Hall, the Chief Minister was briefed on urban development, including prospects for Lahore-Islamabad high-speed rail, railway upgradation, and other infrastructure projects. Cooperation opportunities between the Ravi Urban Development Authority and Yokohama authorities also came under discussion.

Maryam Nawaz visited Yokohama’s state-of-the-art wastewater and waste treatment plant, which treats 1.5 million cubic meters of sewage daily and converts waste into energy. She announced that modern Japanese technology would be introduced in Punjab for clean water provision and waste management.

The Chief Minister also toured the historic “Red Brick Warehouse” and Yokohama Port, expressing her vision to develop Lahore as a modern riverfront city on the pattern of Yokohama along the Ravi River. She extended an invitation to Yokohama’s Urban Development Authority to visit Lahore, which was accepted.

Addressing the Pakistani community in Japan, Maryam Nawaz said overseas Pakistanis are the backbone of the economy, assuring them that their issues would be resolved on a priority basis. She highlighted Punjab’s ongoing mega projects in health, education, and infrastructure.

She further announced the integration of Punjab’s “Suthra Punjab” cleanliness program with Yokohama’s waste management model. She pledged completion of 100,000 housing units by December and five lakh homes over the next five years.

Read more: CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz leaves for five-day official visit to Japan

Maryam Nawaz also revealed that South Asia’s largest cancer hospital is under construction in Lahore, 1,100 new buses will be provided for various cities of Punjab, and 100,000 laptops will be distributed among students.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed that clean drinking water, quality road infrastructure, modern technology, and improved healthcare facilities remain top priorities of her government.