Lahore uplift plan to meet City’s needs for next 25 years

LAHORE:The steering committee set up to review the mega project Lahore Development Programme (LDP) for the provincial capital has been told that the project will meet the needs of the city for the next 25 years.

The meeting of the committee was held at Town Hall under the chairmanship of the convener and Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq. Committee members Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Chief Minister’s Special Assistants Zeeshan Malik, Rashid Iqbal, Lahore Commissioner Zaid bin Maqsood also participated. Administrator / Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza briefed the Steering Committee on the progress made so far. Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that during the first phase of LDP, construction and repair of roads, streets, drains will be done in 6 zones of Lahore. He said that work has started on 347 schemes under the supervision of Municipal Corporation Lahore and Wasa.

“MCL is monitoring 143 development schemes while Wasa is working on 204 sewerage projects”, he said. Zeeshan Rafiq said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, for the first time, coloured tile work is being done in the streets of the provincial capital. “The Lahore Development Programme will meet the city’s municipal needs for the next 25 years”, he pledged. The minister hoped that the completion of the programme will bring out the new face of the provincial capital. On this occasion, Information minister said that neglected areas of Lahore are the focus of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

“LDP was launched from Nishtar, Ravi, Allama Iqbal, Shalimar, Data Ganj Bakhsh and Gulberg zones”, she added. During the meeting, it was decided that work should be started from April in the remaining three zones of Lahore. The minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to pay attention to graveyards and parks as well, saying that the wires hanging in the streets should also be fixed. Azma Bukhari said that the CM has brought remote areas under Wasa for the first time.

“Now 90 percent area of Lahore will be able to benefit from Wasa services”, she remarked. Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Political Affairs Zeeshan Malik warned that there will be no compromise on transparency and quality under LDP. “This plan of the CM will bring relief to the people too like other projects”, he vowed. Zeeshan Malik said that development projects have been laid in the whole Punjab including Lahore during the current government. Rashid Iqbal, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister directed that the elected representatives of Lahore should also be taken into loop in the consultation because they know the problems of their area better. “The government is reaching every backward area of Lahore without any discrimination and the citizens will soon see a pleasant change”, he concluded.