LAHORE: Chief Minister Parvez Elahi announced on Sunday that Punjab government will launch ‘Blue Line project’ to provide another modern travelling facility to the population of the provincial capital, besides dividing the Lahore city district into three districts to improve the service delivery.

“I am giving a news to the journalists that yesterday we decided to launch Blue Line project that will start from Model Town and end at the Old Airport, passing through Garden Town, Data Ganj Bakhsh shrine and other areas. This project will be constructed on Build Operate & Transfer (BOT) basis in funding collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on two percent infrastructure loan interest,” the chief minister explained after he laid the foundation stone of the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority’s (PCBDDA) first mega scheme -- Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project here.

“A French company, which had conducted a survey for the Blue Line, will also assist us in implementing this project. I tell you that you will see the launch of good projects in Lahore that will create jobs,” he added.

Mr Elahi also revealed a plan to divide Lahore in three districts by including some areas of Kasur district in its jurisdiction.

Says Lahore to be divided into three districts

He also told the audience that the provincial government had decided to build a new motorway from Kasur to Rahim Yar Khan via Okara and some other cities. The government, he said, had also lifted the ban imposed on the recruitment, besides reducing property transfer fee from two to one percent.

Lauding the Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project, he said it would attract investment and create jobs, besides beautifying the city with high-rises.

“We are stabilising Punjab as a developed economic welfare province. Public relief and well-being [of people] are our top priorities. PCBDDA has secured a prominent place in the development of Punjab. That is the reason that we have expanded the jurisdiction of the authority all over Punjab,” he said. Punjab government was expanding the scope of work for the public relief across the province and has ensured complete support for the public interest projects.

Speaking on the occasion, the PCBDDA’s Chief Executive Officer Imran Ameen said the authority had a vision to get Pakistan enlisted among the First-World countries. “The authority formed by an act of parliament in February 2021, was given a mission to put Pakistan on the global economic map by establishing Pakistan’s first and most-anticipated business district, CBD. It has provided unique opportunities to the business community to expand their businesses in accordance with international standards,” he explained.

He termed the project an affirmation of the authorities’ vision of promoting urban regeneration. The project, he said, would not only enhance the beauty of Lahore, but also create an amenity that would reshape the daily life routine of its residents. “The 365-meter-long boulevard under the project will be constructed in two phases within a time span of 180 days. The construction of CBD Boulevard will be beneficial for the environment as it will help curb traffic congestion and counter the air pollution caused by long queues of running engines during traffic jams. We have allocated a budget of Rs11 billion for different development projects, including this one,” he maintained.

The project, also known as the central business district square, will commence from the Kalma Chowk underpass, separating it from the first underpass access, to the CBD and then another underpass while turning towards Firdaus Market (Ali Zeb Road) from Centre Point. It will also have several allied development works on Gulberg’s Main Boulevard, besides upgrade of underground sewerage/drainage. It will have two underpasses immediately after crossing the Kalma intersection underpass (while heading toward Gulberg from Barkat Market, Garden Town), giving a signal-free access to the motorists to the CBD project area, including Walton and Ali Zeb Road, to move toward Firdaus Market and enter Cavalry Ground via Lal Shahbaz Qalandar underpass.

The project also envisages underpasses at Kalma Chowk to allow easy access to the CBD at Walton, while avoiding disruption of the existing traffic flow in the vicinity. The project’s two-lane underpass-1 turning toward Ali Zeb Road from Centre Point measuring 632 meters will have two barrels (38 feet wide each) and 5.1 meter vertical clearance (around 17 feet, fit for all light and heavy transport). The second underpass (from Barkat Market to the CBD area at Walton) will be 285-meter-long, having two barrels (35 feet width each with around 17 feet vertical clearance).

The over Rs4.947 billion total cost of the project, which will be completed within a period of 10 months, has been estimated in the light of the second biannual (2022) market rates system (MRS). The rates of the items, which are available in the MRS, have been used in the estimates. And for the items not available in the MRS, rate analysis has been devised based upon the MRS templates using the input rates available with the finance department.

Meanwhile, Mr Elahi met with British-Pakistani businessman and industrialist Sir Anwar Pervaiz at the Chief Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, the chief minister lauded Sir Pervaiz’s role as an investor who was busy eradicating poverty and striving for the country’s prosperity.

He said his government provided a conducive environment for “real investment for the first time”, adding that Punjab was a fertile land for making investment.

He assured the British-Pakistani tycoon that he was personally monitoring the steps aimed at safeguarding the foreign investment, and won’t let the files relating to investment fall a victim to the red tape and no one will be allowed to interfere in the matters of overseas Pakistanis.

Mr Elahi highlighted the government’s efforts for resolving the investors’ problems under single roof.

Sir Anwar Pervaiz appreciated the steps being taken by the CM for the promotion of business and investment in the province in a short span of time. He added that the CM was also doing invaluable work to resolve the issues of the overseas Pakistanis.

He remarked that during the Mr Elahi’s tenure as CM the confidence of the investors had been restored and they were mulling over the option to make new investments.

Former principal secretary to the CM G M Sikandar was also present.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2022