GUJRAT: The Punjab government has approved a Rs10 billion uplift package for the district as the schemes have been included in the 2021-22 Annual Development Programme (ADP) and will be launched within the current year.

Official sources said a major portion of the package comprised the schemes proposed by the PML-Q leader MNA Chaudhary Moonis Elahi. However, they said the schemes proposed by other lawmakers of both the ruling coalition partners – the PTI and PML-Q – for other parts of the district, were also part of the hefty package.

Chaudhrys had demanded funds matching the grants for constituencies of PM, CM

The sources added that the main focus of the package was on resolving the basic issues of Gujrat city, particularly the faulty sewerage and drainage systems, poor road infrastructure and the industrial estate area’s development.

It is learnt that senior PML-Q leaders Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and MNA Moonis Elahi had held a meeting with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar a few weeks ago, during which the mega uplift package was demanded for the district.

Sources said the PML-Q leaders had demanded allocation of uplift funds equal to those being spent in Dera Ghazi Khan and Mianwali (native towns of Punjab CM and Prime Minister Imran Khan, respectively) in the meeting.

According to an aide of the Chaudharys, Moonis Elahi’s proposals for establishment of Phase-II of the small industrial estate area on 150 acres, construction of 14-kilometre long old GT road from Rehmania Bridge to Kathala railway crossing, Track-II of the Servis Morr flyover connecting Rehman Shaheed Road to the GT Road bypass and industrial area link road, and revamping of faulty sewerage system of Gujrat city had been approved by the chief minister.

He said that a 100-bed hospital would also be built on the proposal of MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi in Lakhanwal area of NA-68, besides execution of some other uplift schemes for the constituency.

Official sources said that Rs400 million had been allocated in the next ADP for the construction of streets, roads and small drains in the city.

They added that the schemes proposed by the PTI lawmakers Chaudhry Arshad, Mian Akhtar Hayat and Syed Faizul Hassan for the towns of Sara I Alamgir, Dinga and Lalamusa had also been given a priority in the uplift package.

A Rs1.5 billion overhead bridge on Rajjar railway crossing in Sara I Alamgir city, a trauma centres in Sara I Alamgir Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital and Dinga, much-awaited construction of Kharian-Dinga and Lalamusa-Dinga roads, Rescue 1122 centres for Lalamusa and Dinga and a 10-bed dialysis centre in Kharian THQ Hospital have been included in the package.

It is learnt that the chief minister will formally announce the uplift package during his upcoming visit to the district expected during the next couple of weeks. During the visit, Mr Buzdar is also expected to inaugurate a number of other uplift schemes, including Shahbazpur Bridge over the River Chenab meant to connect Gujrat with Sialkot, newly-constructed District Police Complex etc.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021