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LAHORE, Jan 08 (APP):Local Government and Community Development Minister Zeeshan Rafique, while reviewing development schemes for 20 cities under the Chief Minister Punjab Development Program (PDP), said that work should be done as per the guidelines issued by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and other officers, while Project Director Brigadier (retd) Asad Mehmood briefed the provincial minister on the progress made so far.
Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that Abdul Hakeem, Bahawal Nagar, Gojra, Joharabad, Kundian, Kot Addo, Pasrur, Pattoki, Phalia, Pindi Bhattian have also been brought under the purview of PDP.“Schemes worth Rs. 59 billion have been approved for the provision of basic municipal services in these cities”, he added.
He said that the tendering process for projects worth Rs 63 billion has been completed for Burewala, Khanewal, Mailsi, Silanwali, Vehari, Layyah, Alipur Chatha, Chichawatni, Hasilpur, Hazro, and Jalalpur Jattan.
Zeeshan Rafique said that the schemes have been made in the PDP keeping in mind the needs of the population of the cities by 2050. “The Planning and Development Board, he went on, “has approved Rs 2.5 billion for the establishment of a Program Management Unit (PMU). “The establishment of the PMU will help in achieving the goals of the Punjab Development Program”, he figured out.
The provincial minister said that 3,497 kilometers of sewerage lines will be laid under the PDP. “Similarly, a total of 2,613 kilometers of streets in the cities will be paved with beautiful tiles”, noted minister.
He said that 56 new disposal stations will be built to prevent urban flooding. “The capacity of the existing 61 disposal stations was also being increased. All the new and old disposal stations will be converted to solar energy, which will save crores of rupees in electricity bills. Increasing the capacity of the stations to 2114 cusecs will significantly reduce urban flooding”, he observed.
Zeeshan Rafique said that underground water tanks will be constructed for the storage of rainwater. “Water tanks will not only help in improving the groundwater level but also the water can be used for other purposes”. The provincial minister directed the project director to complete the bidding process within the stipulated time and said that transparency was being ensured in the work award process.