Govt starts work on new urban industrial city

LAHORE
The Punjab government has initiated the development of a new urban industrial city of a world class standard along the Lahore- Islamabad Motorway (M2) corridor near Lillah Interchange. This city will have the largest industrial cluster in the country covering around 200 Sq. Km with a high supportive infrastructure. The city itself will cover 600 Sq. Km of land area offering diverse leisure opportunities.
This was informed by the representatives of the Urban Unit, Planning and Development Department Punjab in a consultative meeting on its ‘The New City Project’ at the Jhelum Chambers of Commerce and Industries (JCCI).
The representatives from the JCCI, Urban Unit, Housing and Urban Development, nominees from the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and the members of local business community were also present.
The urban unit gave a detailed presentation on the project with an aim to introduce it to the members of the JCCI and other participants.
It was disclosed that the initiative was expected to capitalise on the potential opportunities offered under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s long-term goals that were expected to grow business and trade with China and the Central Asian Region (CARs) in addition to boost domestic commerce within and between the provinces based on the immense potential of urbanisation and economic growth in Punjab.
The city limits, jurisdictions and issues related with the geographical location were also discussed so as to have the optimum utilisation of this geographically significant site.
The participants also had a consultation on existing and proposed business environment of the new city. The city will be developed as an industrial hub of not only the province but also of Pakistan on the whole.
The participants also had discussions on criteria based mapping- GIS, investment potential, integration of the project with China Pak Economic Corridor, media strategy for the project and its consultation framework.
The meeting was part of consultations series that would be going on to assess and analyse the industrial demand in the region while focusing on market trends and also assessing the potential to establish a knowledge based economy with emphasis on service industry. In addition, an analysis of potential risks is also the part of the design process. Consultative sessions and interviews will be conducted with business communities, especially with the local chamber members, to elicit their response on all aspects of the feasibility of the development of new city.
Similar sessions have also been planned for other cities of Punjab as well as in the federal capital and other provincial chambers. In the second stage, sessions will also be held with business councils, foreign missions, trade associations and other groups to incorporate a wide range of inputs for optimal city design.