Islamabad, 6 June 2025: In a major urban transformation move, Punjab’s first globally standardized meat market is nearing completion in the heart of Lahore, as Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb toured the revamped Tolinton Market on Thursday.
The visit marked a milestone in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to modernize the province’s food retail infrastructure.
The upgraded facility is set to offer citizens hygienically processed meat, fish, and other food products that align with international health and safety benchmarks.
Minister Aurangzeb has directed authorities to finalize all remaining construction work by June 30, ensuring the timely delivery of the high-profile project.
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Officials revealed that the previously exposed and unsanitary drainage system adjacent to the market has been covered, eliminating foul odors that once plagued the area.
Aesthetic enhancements, such as attractive storefronts and the use of tough tiles, have drastically changed the market’s appearance, drawing praise from both vendors and shoppers.
“The installation of modern infrastructure, removal of dangling cables, and well-organized butcher shops have elevated the market to global retail standards,” remarked a local resident, applauding Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision.
Improved facilities include a dedicated parking zone for visitors, accessible walkways, and organized pedestrian corridors. Authorities confirmed that key utilities like the sewage, drainage, and exhaust systems are now fully operational.
Shopfronts have been equipped with visually striking signboards, giving the market a contemporary look. In parallel, a newly built slaughterhouse has been brought online with strict quality assurance protocols in place.
During her visit, Minister Aurangzeb instructed officials to relocate a nearby informal settlement to an alternate location and mandated the inclusion of a world-class fish market as part of the broader urban renewal project. A detailed implementation plan is expected within two days.
Highlighting the public-private partnership model, the minister emphasized that this initiative represents Punjab’s first such collaboration in the meat retail sector. The project also introduces a robust monitoring mechanism to oversee shop operations and ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
In a directive aimed at wildlife conservation, authorities have been tasked with removing birds from the vicinity of the market and drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) to protect local biodiversity.
“Six months ago, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the deteriorating condition of the market. Today, she has fulfilled her promise by delivering Punjab’s first global-standard meat marketplace,” Aurangzeb stated.
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She further noted that the same model will be replicated across the province to uplift market environments and consumer safety. “For the first time, we’ve enforced international standards in a local meat market,” she added.
Retail associations and vendors expressed appreciation for the provincial government’s efforts, praising their cooperation and responsiveness.
Senior government officials, including Secretary Wildlife and Forests Mudassar Riaz, LDA DG Tahir Farooq, CEO LWMC Babar Sahib Din, MD WASA Ghafran Ahmed, and others, were also present at the site visit.
