CM allocates Rs6bn for Lahore road development

LAHORE: To improve the road structure in Lahore, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a development project at a cost of Rs6 billion along with provision of other facilities.

The CM made this decision while chairing a review meeting of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) here on Saturday.

It was also decided that a waiting area would be allocated for walkways, a specific bicycle lane, a central recreation area, wheel carts and stalls.

Principal approval was granted for the Pilot Development Project in LDA Avenue 1, while the restructuring plan of LDA was also reviewed in the meeting and it was decided to make LDA’s Strategic Policy Unit functional as well.

The meeting also took a principal decision to amend the LDA rules along with introducing a one-window transfer and digital transformation system. The CM also allowed the authority to establish a uniform force and set up an LDA police station.

The proposal to make 20 roads in Lahore commercial was reviewed in the meeting, and the CM said that many corruption complaints about LDA have been reported. Maryam Nawaz also ordered to establish vending points for wheelcart carriers.

The CM was informed during the briefing that Rs20 billion in income will be accrued due to commercialisation and a complete paperless system will be introduced in one year. Encroachments will be monitored through drone cameras. The LDA would provide standard maps of small houses on its website for facilitation of citizens, the meeting decided, and added that the LDA’s approved model construction maps will save precious time of citizens.

The CM directed the LDA to launch new projects to increase its revenue. She directed the formulation of a monitoring mechanism for LDA staff members, along with including katchi abadis in the LDA development plan on a priority basis.

While taking notice of an incident of rape of a 13-year-old student in Kharian, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that heads bow in shame at the heinous act of rape in an educational institution. She expressed great grief and sorrow over the alleged rape of a disabled girl by a security guard in the educational institution and ordered immediate arrest of the accused.

Maryam took notice of an incident of acid throwing in Bahawalnagar and directed immediate arrest of the accused who threw acid on a girl for stopping him from teasing her. The chief minister sought a report from the IGP on the incident.