NAROWAL: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced a special development package of Rs5.12 billion during his visit to Narowal on Monday and laid the foundation stone of three projects under the second phase of the Naya Pakistan Manzalian Asan Programme.

He also visited the corona vaccination centre and inspected the jail.

Talking to the media, the CM said the expansion of three roads [17-km length] had been started at a cost of Rs231.3 million. Similarly, an amount of Rs5.12bn would be spent on 39 projects adding that supply and drainage of water, roads and other plans in Zafarwal and Shakargarh would cost Rs840m. A sum of Rs1.70bn would be spent on the construction of 33-km Narowal-Zafarwal Road and Syed Chiragh Shah Bypass.

He said Rs188m would be spent on the upgrade of schools and 38-km Narowal-Muridke Road would be built through public-private partnership mode with an amount of Rs2.40bn.

Lays foundation stone of three Naya Pakistan housing projects

Buzdar said the Punjab government had approached the Centre to link Narowal and Narang Mandi with Lahore-Sialkot motorway.

The CM said Rs10.35bn were being utilised for 111 ongoing schemes. The Shakargarh to Zafarwal and Kartarpur to Darbar Sahib road improvement projects would cost Rs1.16bn. He said 80 per cent of the upgrade of Zafarwal BHU to THQ hospital had been completed at a cost of Rs213.5m.

“A police station is being constructed in Narowal at a cost of Rs115m and Rs160m is being spent on the provision of missing facilities in 57 Narowal schools,” he said.

To a question, he said the number of vaccination centres had been increased to expedite the process. He said every citizen would have a Sehat Insaf card in Punjab by the end of this year.

He said: “The government wants to introduce a local bodies system in Punjab at the earliest as it seeks to resolve public problems at the grassroots.”

Buzdar paid a surprise visit to the district jail and inspected various barracks.

The CM held meetings with parliamentarians, PTI ticket holders and office-bearers. He issued directions for the solution to problems of the area.

Buzdar said 40 mobile van centres had also been added to provide revenue-related services at the doorstep of the people.

The party workers, including Ibrarul Haq, thanked the CM for delivering ‘best’ performance in the province.

On the complaint of Ibrarul Haq, Buzdar directed the Chief Minister’ Inspection Team (CMIT) to hold an inquiry into the Narowal-Muridke road project and submit a report to him.

He inaugurated Pharma-D (Pharmacy) College under Sahara for Life Trust at Sughra Shafi Medical Complex in Narowal.

Auqaf Minister Syed Saeedul Hassan Shah, Ibrarul Haq, the commissioner, DC and members of the administration were also present.

SHOPS CLOSED: The chief minister inspected Covid vaccination process during his visit here amid tight security as the administration got shops forcibly closed on the CM’s route.

CM Usman Bazdar reached Narowal by a helicopter and was received at the Rangers Headquarters. The CM’s escort comprising 27 vehicles reached DHQ Hospital where Mr Buzdar reviewed the vaccination process.

Speaking on the occasion, Buzdar said the government was taking steps to save the citizens from the outbreak of coronavirus. He urged the people to adhere to standard operating procedure to protect themselves from Covid spread.

On the other hand, the police got business centres and shops closed on both sides from Rangers Headquarters to the DHQ Hospital and from Jasdar Bypass to District Complex, Narowal, for the CM’s visit.

Shopkeepers closed shutters and sat outside the shops.

Shopkeepers Muhammad Adnan and Sharafat Ali said business centres remained closed for the previous two days due to lockdown.

“Today, our shops have been closed by the anti-protocol politician,” Adnan said in a lighter vein.

He said policemen got a letter [undertaking] signed from traders a few days back that they would keep their shops closed on the arrival of the chief minister.

All vehicular movement towards Sialkot, Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujranwala was disrupted, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public at large.

For the visit of Usman Bazdar, the local administration had earlier invited local journalists but later they were stopped from coverage.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021