LAHORE – The year 2025 was marked by heightened political activity, ambitious governance reforms, expansive public welfare initiatives, and vigorous legislative debates in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and politically influential province.
Guided by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government embarked on an ambitious agenda encompassing social welfare, infrastructure development, law and order, environmental initiatives, and administrative reforms, even as political tensions with opposition parties, notably the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), continued throughout the year.
In June, 2025, the Punjab Assembly passed the largest provincial budget in history, a Rs5.33 trillion tax-free budget. A signature initiative was the Suthra Punjab programme, a province-wide sanitation and waste management campaign aimed at transforming cleanliness and waste-to-value management across urban and rural areas. It introduced modern waste collection systems, digital monitoring, and targeted a “Zero Visible Waste Punjab” through enhanced civic services and performance metrics.
Another highlight was the government’s plan to convert 1,200 villages into model villages, integrating basic services and infrastructure under the Suthra Punjab umbrella. Urban transport and heritage also featured in the development agenda. Plans for metro and electric bus services in cities like Faisalabad were unveiled, reflecting a broader push toward sustainable urban mobility.
Meanwhile, the establishment of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival sought to preserve the city’s historical sites, albeit amid protests from traders fearing displacement under restoration plans.
Policing and public safety were key themes in the Punjab Assembly this year. In December, the Punjab Assembly approved the Police Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, legislation that expanded police powers to manage riots and “unlawful” assemblies. The government framed the reforms as necessary for effective law enforcement and crime control.
However, opposition members strongly criticised the bill as “draconian,” arguing it granted excessive authority to police, including provisions they said could be interpreted to allow entry into premises without warrants, a point the government disputed.
The Assembly also approved the Regulation of Kite Flying Punjab Bill 2025 and amendments to the Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Bill, reflecting continued legislative activity beyond law enforcement debates.
Political competition between the ruling PML-N and the opposition PTI remained a defining feature of Punjab’s political landscape. PML-N leaders repeatedly highlighted governance achievements and development outputs throughout the year. Information Minister Azma Bokhari described 2025 as a year of “development, public welfare and political stability,” citing progress in sanitation, housing, transport, and law and order as evidence of strong public trust in the provincial leadership.
Another notable political development in 2025 was the three-day visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to Lahore from December 26 to 28, which added fresh momentum to opposition politics in Punjab. The visit was aimed at mobilising support for a proposed PTI-led street movement while running parallel to dialogue efforts being pursued by an opposition alliance led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Naqvi.
Afridi’s presence in Lahore generated considerable political activity as he visited several high-profile locations, including Zaman Park, the residence of PTI founder Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court, and Liberty Chowk, where PTI supporters gathered in significant numbers. He also met the families of jailed PTI leaders.
The visit, however, was marked by visible tension between the KP and Punjab governments. Afridi’s movements were restricted at certain points, and an altercation was reported at the Punjab Assembly when he arrived with party supporters. Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari publicly asked the KP chief minister to conclude his visit, reflecting the unease surrounding his activities.
In 2025, the PPP remained largely politically inactive in Punjab, with its presence scarcely felt both inside and outside the provincial legislature. Being a coalition partner at the centre, the party failed to assert itself in the Punjab Assembly or mobilise any meaningful political activity in the province. President Asif Ali Zardari made a few visits to Lahore during the year, but these remained low-key and largely confined to private meetings. Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif did not receive the president at the airport, a detail that reinforced perceptions of the PPP’s limited political footprint and waning influence in Punjab’s politics during the year.
One of the political developments of 2025 in Punjab was the suspension of 26 PTI lawmakers from the Punjab Assembly for allegedly creating disorder during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s address to the House. The suspensions triggered a prolonged legal and political standoff, as an assembly committee later recommended that the lawmakers be disqualified through a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
However, after negotiations extending over more than a month, Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan exercised his authority to resolve the matter internally. He ultimately restored the memberships of the suspended lawmakers and chose not to forward the disqualification reference to the ECP, effectively defusing the crisis.
Separately, the PTI suffered further setbacks when four its Punjab Assembly members lost their seats following convictions related to the May 9 violence. The party also lost its Leader of the Opposition, whose membership was terminated after an adverse court ruling, significantly weakening PTI’s parliamentary strength in the province.
The Punjab Assembly’s practices themselves were occasionally embroiled in controversy. Instances of adjournments due to quorum failures, heated debates over policies, and procedural disputes punctuated legislative sessions highlighting challenges in managing a politically divided house and ensuring smooth governance.
Early in 2025, PML-N announced a province-wide public contact campaign under the leadership of senior party figures aimed at consolidating grassroots engagement and strengthening the party’s organisational presence across Punjab.
On the political front, PML-N consolidated its position through by-elections and intra-party mobilization. The party, often in coalition with the PPP, performed strongly in recent by-elections, even securing seats in areas traditionally dominated by rivals, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Additionally, the Election Commission’s allotment of extra seats in provincial assemblies, including in KP, offered a boost to PML-N’s legislative presence, strengthening its bargaining power within the federal framework.
Conversely, PTI’s political strategy in Punjab featured sustained criticism of the provincial government’s policies and governance record. Opposition lawmakers raised concerns over legislative reforms like the Police Order amendments, which they argued could be used to curb political dissent.
