LAHORE: The Punjab government has launched the Green Railway Corridor Project, a major environmental initiative aimed at transforming neglected railway land into parks and green recreational spaces as part of its broader strategy to create a greener and smog-free Punjab.
According to an official handout, the project will be implemented in four phases and involves the development of 32 parks on abandoned railway land previously affected by illegal encroachments and waste dumping.
In the first phase, around 20 acres of land stretching from Shahdara to Raiwind have been converted into landscaped greenbelts, gardens, and public recreational spaces. So far, 21 parks have been developed along the railway corridor, providing residents with improved recreational facilities while enhancing the urban environment.
The 45-kilometre Green Railway Corridor is being executed at an estimated cost of over Rs1.77 billion through a joint initiative of the Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) and Pakistan Railways.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities to remove obstacles delaying the remaining phases of the project and ensure its timely completion.
Mobile laboratories for farmers
Separately, the chief minister also launched the Lab on Wheels project to provide farmers with doorstep scientific soil and water testing services aimed at promoting digital and climate-smart agriculture.
Under the initiative, farmers can request a mobile laboratory through a single call. Technical teams will visit farms, collect soil and water samples, conduct on-site scientific analysis, and immediately issue reports along with recommendations on suitable crops and fertilizer use.
The mobile laboratories will measure soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Test results will be uploaded instantly through a mobile application, enabling farmers to receive digital reports via SMS and WhatsApp.
Agricultural experts will also provide on-site advisory services based on the findings to help improve crop productivity and optimise fertilizer application.
Officials informed the chief minister that a central control room has been established to monitor the project, with all mobile laboratories equipped with GPS tracking, live camera streaming, and a digital dashboard to ensure transparency and efficient field operations.
Under the programme, the government has set annual targets of collecting 20,000 soil samples, conducting 500 Farmers’ Field Days, and providing training to 15,000 farmers each year as part of efforts to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices across Punjab.
