Punjab government to start development projects

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Shahbaz says foundation stone of Shalimar flyover to be laid on September 2
* Says FWO to execute all projects
* NESPAK ordered to audit those responsible for Shaukat Ali Road
* Construction to continue around the clock on all projects

Staff Report
LAHORE: The provincial government will undertake a number of development projects from the first week of September, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

He revealed this in a high level meeting, which was convened to review projects such as the construction of different flyovers, express and other roads.

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) director, TEPA managing director, the NESPAK vice president and other officials were present at the occasion.

Shahbaz said that the foundation stone of the Shalimar flyover would be laid on September 2, and construction work of express roads in Rawalpindi and Lahore would start in October. Shahbaz also ordered Hassan to establish a task force for the monitoring of all developmental projects and co-ordination between departments concerned.

FWO: Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the FWO had executed a number of development projects in the city and that there had been no need for any repairs. He added that keeping in view the performance of the FWO, all development projects would be executed by it. Shahbaz directed the FWO to conduct a survey of the proposed projects addind that the provision of facilities such as telephone and sewerage should be completed beforehand, as permission for re-digging the roads would not be granted under any circumstances.

He said that designs had been prepared for the construction of flyovers at Shalimar Chowk and Hussain Chowk. However, the construction of the Shalimar flyover would start first to solve the traffic problems faced by the people of that area as soon as possible. He added that different projects, including Shalimar Road, Multan Road, Circular Road, Shaukat Ali Road, Walton Road, Khurshid Alam Road and Jain Mandir Road would also start within the first week of September.

Shahbaz directed NESPAK to complete the designs of express roads from Lahore Bridge to Ravi Bridge in Lahore and Murree Chowk to Faizabad in Rawalpindi as early as possible so that their construction could also start in October.

Audit: The chief minister also issued instructions for an audit to be conducted by NESPAK of the poor construction work of Shaukat Ali Road and said that action would be taken against the persons responsible for the substandard execution of the project.

Construction: Shahbaz said that development projects were executed around the clock in developed countries and this culture should also be promoted in Pakistan. He said that construction work during the night helped in the early execution of the projects. He added that special attention was also being paid to the implementation of development projects in Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Bahawalpur.

He ordered authorities concerned to ensure construction of all roads within the stipulated time. He also issued instructions for the provision of basic amenities to the people, as well as the plantation of trees on both sides of the roads.

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