The historic central bazaar of Sohawa has been transformed into a model marketplace, cleared of obstacles and beautified to enhance public convenience. Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance and Railways, officially inaugurated the newly upgraded Sohawa Model Bazaar and conducted a detailed tour of its various sections to inspect the new infrastructure.
The beautification project was completed at a total cost of PKR 109.2 million under the special initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, which aims to clear encroachments and modernize cities across the province. The upgraded model bazaar now features dedicated pedestrian walkways, streetlights, and comprehensive sewerage and drainage systems, alongside other modern public amenities.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for driving development across Punjab. He highlighted that the record number of development projects in the Jhelum district reflects the special affection of PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the local community, while also praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s sincere efforts toward national economic and social development at the federal level. The Minister announced that model bazaars are being established in all three major cities of the district—Jhelum, Dina, and Sohawa—with work on the Dina and Jhelum markets nearing speedy completion. He emphasized that the project successfully protected the rights of local shopkeepers, ensuring that both traders and citizens are highly satisfied with the transformation. Prior to the launch, the Minister was given a detailed briefing on the execution of the project.
Following the inauguration, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani hosted a public grievance court (Khuli Kachehri) at the Municipal Committee Hall in Sohawa to directly engage with the community. He was accompanied by Major General (R) Azhar Kayani, Advisor on Health to the Chief Minister of Punjab. The Minister spent over six hours listening to the concerns of citizens, issuing immediate on-the-spot directives to the high-ranking administration, police, and departmental officials present at the venue. This session marks the continuation of a public engagement drive launched by the Minister to address local issues firsthand, following similar public outreach events held in Jhelum on July 4 and in Dina on July 12.
