BAHAWALPUR: A comprehensive plan to beautify Bahawalpur city has been undertaken with a view to highlight its historical importance and make it attractive to local as well as foreign tourists.

Commissioner Saqib Zafar told Dawn that the plan was aimed at restoration of the lost grandeur of this old city, which had treasure of historic buildings, monuments and parks, including the internationally-reputed Lal Sohanra National Park.

Mr Zafar said to achieve the objective the city’s entrance and exit points would also be developed and encroachments and unauthorised constructions on Multan Road would be demolished.

In this respect, he said, the lawmakers of the area, traders’ bodies and intelligentsia would also be taken on board.

He said the reconstruction or rehabilitation of now vanished or damaged seven gates which once encircled the old walled city had already been started.

He said the restoration of historic clocks installed at over-a-century old building of the Government Sadiq Dane High School and Dring Stadium, would be undertaken, besides renovation of front portion of the printing press of the defunct Bahawalpur State on Baghdad Road.

As part of the plan, he said, the historic cannon of the late Nawab’s era would be installed near the GPO Chowk in the city.

He said the reconstruction and restoration of the six gates -- Derawari, Ahmedpuri, Shikarpuri, Bohar, Multani and Mori would be carried out by the district government, hoping the work would be complete within next few months. The seventh -- Farid Gate, earlier known as Bekanari Gate, had already been renovated and illuminated by installing spot lights there.

Such lights, he said had also been installed along the painted walls of the buildings facing the Circular Rand and the historic Central Library.

The commissioner said the repairs of faulty and chocked underground sewerage system on the Circular Road, particularly in front of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) and Bund Road were being done by the public health engineering department (PHED) and city tehsil municipal administration (TMA). This, he said, would help revive the old sewerage system of the city for smooth flow of sewage, especially in monsoon to provide relief to the citizens.

FUNDS: Senator Saood Majid Chaudhry has said Punjab government would soon release funds for the establishment of a new industrial estate in Bahawlpur.

He was presiding over oath-taking ceremony of the new office-bearers of the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) here on Wednesday night.

The senator, who also heads the group that swept the BCCI’s annual poll, was confident that with the funds release, the development work of the industrial estate would be undertaken.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had promised release of funds for the purpose. Newly-elected BCCI president Zafar Sharif and other office-bearers also spoke.

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2015

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