City’s neglected areas to be improved under LDP: minister

LAHORE : Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq said that the chief minister has approved a development programme of worth Rs137 billion for the provincial capital. "Previously neglected areas of Lahore are focus of Lahore Development Programme (LDP). For the first time, the streets of Lahore are being made with tiles in beautiful colours, like other big cities of the world", he said.

Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq, who is also Convener of the LDP Steering Committee, has said that LDP is a historic initiative of the Chief Minister for the convenience of the citizens of the provincial capital, which will significantly improve the beauty of the city.

The provincial minister said this while addressing a media briefing on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Lahore Development Programme (LDP) at the Town Hall on Saturday.

Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bukhari, Special Assistants to Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik, Rashid Iqbal, Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza, Wasa MD Syed Ghufran Ahmed and Chief Officer Shahid Abbas Kathia were also present on this occasion.

Zeeshan Rafiq added that the installation of street lights is being ensured in a phased manner. "The rehabilitation of parks, roads, and sewage systems is also part of this programme".

The Minister for Local Government said that comprehensive drainage schemes are underway at all rainwater hotspots. "I hope that these will be completed before the rainy season. The Chief Minister’s vision is to provide basic services to every citizen of provincial capital ", he remarked. He further added that under the LDP, the provincial capital has been divided into two parts. "Work has started in six zones during the first phase and the work will also be done in the remaining three zones in the next phase", he said.

The Minister for Local Government said that both MCL and Wasa have been assigned separate responsibilities and both the institutions are taking the work forward with the cooperation of the relevant departments. He said that along with Lahore, the same programme is being extended to the entire Punjab. "A programme for basic municipal services has also been approved in all cities. Work is underway on the first phase of the Punjab Cities Development Programme. This mega project will be completed within two to three years", he said. To a question, he said that tree plantation is also a part of the LDP and it will also be implemented.

On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner and Administrator Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) Syed Musa Raza told the media that the Lahore Development Programme aimed to restore dilapidated streets and sewage. "On the instructions of the Chief Minister, Wasa has expanded its scope and laid a new pipeline", he told. He said that along with new water supply schemes, sewage is also being improved.

Musa Raza said that for the first time, e-tendering of the entire project was done on the instructions of the chief minister. 'After a detailed survey, formal work started from February. Wasa Lahore has completed 40 percent of the work so far".

The deputy commissioner clarified that after the completion of the project, no excavation will be allowed in any street without NOC. He said that Nespak is monitoring all the projects. All payments are being made online by introducing e-billing.

During the press briefing, Wasa Lahore MD Ghufran Ahmed said that under the programme, Wasa’s scope has increased by 50 percent. "A 350-kilometer pipeline will be laid in three months and this will create a new history in a way". To a question, he informed that efforts have been made to ensure that the roads are not completely blocked by excavation.