Punjab Approves Rs6.88bn MPA Hostel Expansion

Punjab has approved Rs6.881 billion for the MPA hostel expansion, the second phase of the MPA Hostel in Lahore. The province has also approved Rs3.979 billion to set up aquaculture malls, as part of the same Rs126.668 billion development package.

Both allocations were cleared at the 13th meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party on Friday, and were reported on Saturday. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr Naeem Rauf, Chairman of the Planning and Development Board. The package covers healthcare, education, infrastructure, traffic management and industrial development.

What the MPA hostel expansion covers

The second phase covers the construction of the MPA Hostel in Lahore, which houses members of the Punjab Assembly during sessions in the capital. The hostel stands near the Punjab Assembly building.

The hostel has been debated before. In 2011, a plan to build a second phase with 102 apartments at a cost of over Rs3 billion was dropped after the chief minister disallowed it on austerity grounds. The new Rs6.881 billion approval is more than double that shelved figure, and comes as part of a much larger development package rather than as a standalone project.

Aquaculture malls to boost fisheries

Punjab will set up aquaculture malls across the province with Rs3.979 billion. The malls are expected to boost the fisheries sector and create new economic opportunities through modernised production and marketing facilities.

The scheme is not new. Aquaculture malls were first approved in March 2025 at a cost of Rs2.17 billion. The revised allocation of Rs3.979 billion is almost double the original figure, reflecting a bigger push into fish farming as a source of jobs and income in the province.

Punjab has backed fish farming before. The province approved a shrimp estate in Sargodha, and the chief minister announced an aqua business park for Chunian focused on shrimp and fish farming. The new aquaculture malls extend that push by adding dedicated market and production sites.

What the balance of the package covers

The six schemes reported so far account for Rs121.42 billion of the Rs126.668 billion plan, about 96 per cent of the total. The balance of about Rs5.25 billion covers two more schemes: the Provincial Traffic Management and Command Centre at Qurban Police Lines in Lahore, at Rs3.246 billion, and the Cutlery Sector Technology Upgradation Programme, at Rs2 billion. Both were cleared at the same 13th meeting on Friday, alongside the six larger schemes.

The full package so far

The package so far includes:

• Sewerage, drainage and street paving in 13 cities at Rs75.987 billion
• University of Technology at Rasul at Rs18.862 billion
• Jhika Gali Chowk scheme in Murree at Rs4.063 billion
• Two hospitals at Rs11.65 billion, a children’s hospital in Rawalpindi and the 50-bed Bhurban hospital
• MPA Hostel expansion at Rs6.881 billion
• Aquaculture malls at Rs3.979 billion

Together, the six schemes account for Rs121.42 billion of the Rs126.668 billion plan. That is about 96 per cent of the total. The remaining Rs5.25 billion covers the traffic management centre and the cutlery programme.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MPA Hostel expansion worth?

Rs6.881 billion. The second phase will expand and upgrade the hostel for provincial lawmakers in Lahore.

What are aquaculture malls?

Purpose-built sites that will support fish farming, production and marketing. Punjab has approved Rs3.979 billion for the malls, up from Rs2.17 billion when the scheme was first approved in March 2025.

Which meeting approved the two schemes?

The Provincial Development Working Party cleared both at its 13th meeting on Friday, as part of a Rs126.668 billion package.

How much is the full package?

Rs126.668 billion across 19 schemes. The six schemes reported so far make up about 96 per cent of the total, and the balance covers a traffic management centre and a cutlery programme.

What else has the package funded?

Earlier approvals include sewerage in 13 cities, the Rasul university, the Jhika Gali Chowk scheme, and two new hospitals in Rawalpindi and Bhurban.