Maryam orders action against forced land acquisition

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, along with PMLN President and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, visited the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) area.

In response to allegations of forced land acquisition from farmers, the Chief Minister directed RUDA to conduct a third-party audit. Expressing concern over public complaints about forced land acquisition, the Chief Minister instructed the relevant authorities to conduct a third-party audit ofthe matter. She directed that affected slums be relocated to suitable areas and agreed to the formation of a special team to monitor construction quality.

To ensure the highest quality construction in the RUDA project, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the hiring of world-class professional consultants for the Ravi River City project.

PMLN President also visited Ravi Sapphire Bay, a suburb of Sheikhupura and inspected the River Training Works, Barrage, and construction progress at Sapphire Bay. The Chief Minister also visited the cofferdam site.

Both the Chief Minister and PMLN President were briefed in detail about the River Training Work Development Plan. RUDA CEO Imran Amin outlined the project’s scope, including 46 km of channelization in three phases on both sides of the Ravi River, 36% of the area reserved for forests and greenery, a 46-km long three-way road from Siphen to Hudayara Drain, and the construction of three barrages.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Assistant Rashid Nasrullah, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Secretary Housing Asadullah Khan, Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood, RUDA CEO Imran Amin, and other relevant officers accompanied the Chief Minister.

In her message on the launch of the anti-polio campaign, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised the importance of achieving 100% polio eradication in Punjab. She urged parents to vaccinate their children and highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in 14 districts. The Chief Minister expressed her determination to make Punjab polio-free and emphasised the devastating impact of polio on children. She also recognised the invaluable work of polio workers.

On International Day to Protect Education from Attack, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif highlighted the significance of education as a cornerstone of public welfare. She emphasised the importance of education for a nation’s development and expressed concern over attacks on educational institutions worldwide, including Pakistan. She condemned the APS attack and the broader impact of terrorism and extremism on children’s dreams. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing safe and quality education and emphasised the collective responsibility to protect education from all attacks. Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her grief over the death of former MNA Humeer Hayat Khan Rokhri and offered condolences to the bereaved family.