GUJRANWALA: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday announced development projects worth Rs25 billion, besides the establishment of a universities during his visits to Sheikhupura, Hafizabad and Gujranwala districts.

According to handouts issued on Wednesday, talking to the media in Gujranwala, the chief minister announced Rs8.41 billion projects, including a flyover at Alam Chowk and internal and external link roads in the city. He said 14 more projects would be launched in the district, including a burns unit, at a cost of Rs1.92 billion.

He also announced University of Gujranwala project, having a sub-campus of the Punjab University and of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET).

“The process has already been started and I will personally monitor this project,” the CM added.

He said instructions had been issue for conducting the feasibility study of a children’s hospital in Gujranwala and the federal government would also be approached for improvement of GT Road. He also announced that a road would be constructed to link Gujranwala with Sialkot-Lahore Motorway via Eminabad Mor

Briefing the media, he said Sahulat bazaars would be established at the tehsil level in Punjab. He said prices of the daily-use items would be at the level of the rates of these commodities in 2018 in Ramazan bazaars. The chief minister inaugurated four projects worth Rs7.84 billion, including the Ghakkar Sports Arena, Gujranwala Arts Council Auditorium, an OPD unit at the teaching hospital Gujranwala and a 62.5 acre landfill site project.

He handed over the keys of 106 vehicles to officials of the Gujranwala Waste Management Company to keep the city clean and laid the foundation stone of the BS Block in the Government Postgraduate College for Women, Shadab Training Institute and the building of a special education centre at Kamoke worth Rs2.23 billion and Rs8.3 million, respectively. During his visit, Buzdar met PTI leader Hamid Nasir Chattha and briefed him about the development agenda of his government.

SHEIKHUPURA: The chief minister announced development package worth more than Rs10bn for Sheikhupura district, along with the establishment of Waris Shah University there, during his visit.

He ordered transfer of Muridke tehsildar and local government sub-divisional officer (SDO) on public complaints. He also inaugurated a tree planting drive at the Sheikhupura Gymkhana.

He inaugurated the district education complex, Muridke trauma centre, CTD regional office, model school on Faisalabad road and Sharaqpur Chowk dual road projects worth Rs1.27 billion.

He also laid the foundation stone of a water supply and drainage project costing Rs410 million at Sheikhupura.

He held a meeting with local parliamentarians, including PML-N rebel MPA Mian Jalil Sharaqpuri.

On the occasion, the chief minister said that 19 mega projects would also be started with an amount of Rs8.38 billion at Sheikhupura. He said eight projects, including that of Narang Mandi cadet college, water supply and drainage scheme, healthcare, educational and roads repairs schemes would be launched in the district.

He said the foundation stone of Manawala-Sucha Sauda road was laid to promote tourism in the area, adding that the project would cost Rs640m.

He told the parliamentarians that all development packages for the districts would be finalised in consultation with the local lawmakers. Talking to the media, Mr Buzdar said a decision had been taken in principle to detach Sheikhupura from the Lahore Development Authority’s jurisdiction.

He said steps were being taken for the establishment of Waris Shah University as setting up varsities in every district was a commitment of the PTI government.

HAFIZABAD: The chief minister announced a Rs7.2bn development package for Hafizabad district, saying land had been transferred for execution of district headquarters hospital and the University of Hafizabad projects.

On his directions, he said, the Hafizabad University Act would be presented before the cabinet meeting on Thursday (today).

He also held meetings with local parliamentarians at the district complex.

He also visited the integrated command and control room at the DPO’s office, where he was briefed about police vehicles’ tracking system and CCTV surveillance.

Talking to the media, Mr Buzdar said Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced establishment of University of Hafizabad and a DHQ hospital in the district. He said land has been allotted for the varsity, while the PC-1 of the DHQ hospital was being prepared.

He announced that Hafizabad-Sukheki road, Kot Hara-Jallalpur Bhatian road, Chowk Sukheki-Jalalpur Bhattian road would be repaired and restored at a cost of Rs3.98 billion.

He said 20 other projects were going to be launched in the district, along with 10 road rehabilitation schemes at a cost of Rs3.35 billion.

Similarly, he said a girls college would be constructed at Kolo Tarar, besides completion of beatification, water supply and drainage projects. The chief minister’s helicopter landed on the motorway near Sheikhupura exit point, where he inspected Sheikhupura-Gujranwala road.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2021