RAWALPINDI, July 2: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced a number of uplift projects for Rawalpindi, including expansion of roads, construction of flyovers, reopening of a polytechnic institute and construction of a housing colony for the members of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club (RIPC).

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected body of the press club on Sunday the chief minister announced that the foundation stone laying ceremony of the journalists housing colony would be held by the end of this month.

“The Punjab government has provided an unprecedented amount of Rs14 billion for implementing various development projects in Rawalpindi during the last three years”, he said.

The chief minister said in order to ease traffic congestion on Murree Road, Marrir Chowk and its adjoining roads would be widened at a cost of Rs700 million. The Nespak has already approved the design of the project.

He said a polytechnic institute would also be set up in Rawalpindi. Funds have already been released for the purchase of 10 kanals of land for the institute that was closed during Gen Ayub Khan’s tenure.

A huge amount has been spent on education sector reforms due to which, the chief minister said, two million more children have been enrolled in 67,000 schools during this year and the drop-out rate of girls in schools has became zero.

He said school children were also provided free meals and books. “Now we are moving towards quality education”, the CM said.

Speaking about the journalists colony, the chief minister said: “The government has always endeavoured for the welfare of the journalists and a similar scheme was launched in Lahore”.

He said the present government firmly believed in strengthening of institutions and that was why the Punjab government announced annual grant of Rs1 million to all district bar associations and Rs300,000 to Tehsil bar associations every year.

He said Supreme Court Bar Association has also been given Rs20.5 million.

“We consider this body (RIPC) to be an institution and that’s why the Punjab government has decided to provide you a place to build your homes”.

The housing colony will be located at Lohi Bher on the main Islamabad Highway near the Airport Chowk.

“This is the best location for you to construct your homes,” he added.

The chief minister announced that all the members of the RIPC and Photographers’ Association, journalists of private television channels and PTV would also be accommodated while the Bank of Punjab would provide soft loans for construction of houses.

The government of Punjab, he announced, would carry out the development works including laying of sewerage lines, provision of clean drinking water, construction of schools, parks, mosques, a hospital and roads in the housing colony.

“There will be only nominal charges for the development work,” he said.

He said a similar scheme for journalists in Multan will also be announced.

Chief Minister Elahi said that the Punjab Assembly has already done legislation to ensure that the governments in future did not revert back on these housing schemes for journalists.

He also announced to release Rs2 million grant for the press club within a week, which was pending for the last two years and said it would be given Rs1 million every year.

The government of Punjab, he added, would also construct a 400-seat capacity hall above the existing building of RIPC for which a committee, headed by Punjab Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat would be formed along with the press club members.

He also announced Rs500,000 grant for Photographers’ Association.

Chief Minister Elahi said that loans on easy instalments through Bank of Punjab would be given to journalists for construction of houses.

Information Minister, Muhammad Ali Durrani on the occasion commended the services of the press club.

Chairman of the ad hoc committee M. Ziauddin congratulated the newly appointed journalist body and lauded the journalists for co-operating with the committee in scrutinising the list and completing the whole process.

Earlier, secretary of the ad hoc committee Tariq Warsi briefed the gathering about transparency of election by excluding 383 illegal members during preparation of voter lists.

Earlier, the chief minister administered oath to the newly- elected body members of press club and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting awarded special shields to members.

Earlier RIPC president Mushtaq Minhas spoke about the problems of the journalists and urged the government to help implement the wage award.

He also called for providing treatment facilities to journalists in the government hospitals for which they should be issued cards.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani, Punjab Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat and other local government officials were also present at the Press Club.— Agencies