Rawalpindi: Shahbaz announces development package

[Naveed Yaseen]

Construction of 10 underpasses on Murree Road proposed, technical institute to be established, free medicines to be providedin general wards of hospitals

Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Islamabad

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has announced a development package for Rawalpindi city aimed at improving educational, health and infrastructure facilities for the citizens.

He gave details of the plan at a news conference following a meeting with elected political leadership of the district at Punjab House here Tuesday.

The chief minister said a committee of experts has been constituted to give its opinion by 18th of this month on a plan submitted by the NLC as a substitute to Murree Road Elevated Expressway project. He said the Expressway project was not economically feasible as its cost had gone up to Rs30 billion and the province can hardly afford to spare this much amount for a nine kilometre road. The new plan proposes construction of 10 under-passes on Murree Road at a cost of Rs8 billion.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said a 250-bed institute of cardiology would be set up in Rawalpindi. Funds have been allocated for the purpose and the project would be completed in about one and a half year.

Similarly, he said, site has been identified for establishment of an institute of urology.

The chief minister said a state-of-the-art Danish School would also be established in Rawalpindi to take care of quality education for deserving and intelligent but poor students. It would provide free boarding and lodging to the students while 10 per cent seats would also be reserved for children of well-to-do families on full fee basis.

He said 200 schools of Rawalpindi are also being equipped with latest IT labs in collaboration with internationally known IT companies. In all, 4,200 schools in the entire Punjab would have such labs.

He also announced establishment of a technical institute in Rawalpindi at an existing building of the Livestock Department. A similar institute is already functioning in Taxila.

The chief minister announced that apart from emergency wards of major hospitals, now free of cost medicines would also be provided to patients in general wards of district headquarters hospitals of the province. He said air conditioners are also being provided to general wards of 36 district hospitals. He said free dialysis is also being provided in all big hospitals.

Replying to a question about decision of the Punjab government to challenge in the court the announcement of the bye-elections in Rawalpindi and Lahore, the chief minister said this has been done in view of the written warnings of the agencies of the federal government about security threats to important political leaders. These include the prime minister and Punjab chief minister. He said some elements want to target some political personalities to destabilise the country.

He said the Punjab government was not apprehensive of the bye-elections. He said in case of elections, the party would announce its candidates for the two constituencies on return home of Mian Nawaz Sharif from abroad.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said the PML(N) wants to strengthen the system and the democracy and has no intention to indulge in any destabilisation campaign.

He said lacunae in the system can be removed through dialogue. He lauded successful military operation in Swat and Malakand and said we will have to take more steps to ensure hundred per cent success in preventing terrorist incidents.

About demand of the PML(N) regarding trial of the former president under article-6 of the Constitution, he said under the law only the government can initiate proceedings in this regard and not an individual or a party.

The chief minister told a questioner that necessary administrative measures are being taken to ensure that sugar is sold at Rs40 per kilogram as has been directed by the Supreme Court. He said they would be thankful to sugar mills that would extend cooperation willingly and law would take its course against others.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=202022