PDP: Punjab LG Minister Reviews Development Schemes for 20 Cities

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development Zeeshan Rafique on Thursday reviewed development schemes for 20 cities under the Chief Minister Punjab Development Program (PDP), directing officials to ensure implementation in line with the guidelines issued by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The review meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian and other senior officers, while Project Director Brigadier (retd) Asad Mehmood briefed the minister on the progress achieved so far.
Zeeshan Rafique said that cities including Abdul Hakeem, Bahawalnagar, Gojra, Joharabad, Kundian, Kot Addo, Pasrur, Pattoki, Phalia and Pindi Bhattian have been brought under the scope of the PDP. He said development schemes worth Rs59 billion have been approved to provide basic municipal services in these cities.
He added that the tendering process for projects worth Rs63 billion has been completed for Borewala, Khanewal, Mailsi, Silanwali, Vehari, Layyah, Alipur Chatha, Chichawatni, Hasilpur, Hazro and Jalalpur Jattan.
The minister said the PDP schemes have been designed keeping in view the projected needs of urban populations up to 2050. He added that the Planning and Development Board has approved Rs2.5 billion for the establishment of a Program Management Unit (PMU), which will help ensure effective implementation and achievement of the program’s objectives.
Under the PDP, a total of 3,497 kilometres of sewerage lines will be laid, while 2,613 kilometres of city streets will be paved with tiles, the minister said. He added that 56 new disposal stations will be constructed to prevent urban flooding, while the capacity of 61 existing disposal stations will also be enhanced.
“All new and existing disposal stations will be shifted to solar energy, resulting in significant savings in electricity costs,” Zeeshan Rafique said, adding that increasing the total disposal capacity to 2,114 cusecs would substantially reduce urban flooding.
He further said that underground water tanks will be built under the PDP to store rainwater, which will help recharge groundwater levels and allow the stored water to be used for other purposes.
The provincial minister directed the project director to complete the bidding process within the stipulated timeframe and said transparency in awarding projects is being ensured through an e-bidding system under the Punjab Development Program.